METHODISM 


IN 


POUGHKEEPSIE  AND  VICINITY. 


FROM  1780  TO  1892, 


WITH 


SKETCHES  AND  INCIDENTS. 


A  BRIEF  SUMMARY  OF  OTHER  RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS. 


BY 

REV.   L    M.   VINCENT. 


POUGHKEEPSIE,  N.  Y. 

PRESS  OF  A.  V.  HAIGHT, 

1 2  LIBERTY  ST. 


fiC 


Introduction. 

THIS  volume  is  largely  devoted  to  the  History  of  Meth- 
odism in  Poughkeepsie. 

The  writer,  now  in  the  64th  year  of  his  connection  with 
the  Washington  Street  M.  E.  Church,  has  long  felt  that 
some  more  permanent  record  than  hitherto  existed,  should 
be  available  to  the  Methodists  of  this  city. 

The  book  is  not  intended  as  a  boast,  is  not  prompted  by 
any  spirit  of  rivalry,  or  egotism. 

"  Let  him  that  glorieth  glory  in  the  Lord." 

What  Methodism  is,  is  of  God,  and  we  only  boast  of 
God's  tender  love  and  infinite  mercy,  in  an  instrumentality 
that  has  gathered  a  vast  number  of  harvest  sheaves. 

Without  any  reflection  on  past  history  or  persons,  it  is 
only  truthful  to  say,  that  Methodism  in  its  early  beginning 
in  Poughkeepsie,  was  hardly  a  "  welcome  guest." 

Its  introduction  and  history  confirm  the  fact. 

It  was  only  after  a  severe  struggle  of  several  years  that 
it  found  a  lodgment 

Its  infancy  was  feeble,  and  its  growth  comparatively  slow. 

Its  friends  multiplied,  and  it  came  to  stay. 

In  seventy  years  it  has  made  a  steady,  and  a  sturdy 
advance.  It  is  quite  equal  in  numbers  to-day,  to  any  Pro- 
testant church  in  the  city. 

It  has  many  years  to  grow  before  it  reaches  the  age  of 
several  of  our  sister  churches 

It  is  young,  compared  with  our  "  Reformed  Churches," 
which  have  held  occupancy  here  170  years  ;  and  our  Epis- 
copal brethren  whose  existence  dates  back  126  years. 

No  partiality  can  be  justly  alleged  against  the  author 
of  this  book  in  devoting  so  much  space  to  the  "  Mother 
Church  of  Episcopal  Methodism  "  in  Poughkeepsie,  viz  : 
the  Washington  street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  :  The 
writer  knows  "tliis"  church,  as  he  has  never  known  any  other. 
With  most  of  the  recorded  list  of  members,  herein,  he  was 
personally  intimate.  All  have  passed  away  but  three. 


4  Methodism  in  Poughkcepsie. 

Sixty-four  years  in  any  church  makes  a  history. 

Washington  street  M.  E  Church  was  the  only  Methodist 
church  in  this  city  up  to  1840  ;  and  the  history  of  the 
"  Mother  Church  "  in  an  important  sense,  is  the  history  of 
each  and  all 

Thanks  are  hereby  tendered  to  pastors  of  sister  churches, 
for  facts  in  regard  to  their  own  church  history,  so  readily 
accorded. 


What  is   Methodism  ? 

This  question  will  naturally  be  asked  by  many  who 
read  this  volume. 

Methodism  is  a  term  usually  applied  to  the  system 
of  'doctrines  and  general  plans  of  economy  held  and 
professed  by  the  Wesleyan  Methodists  of  England 
and  elsewhere — notably  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Churches  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

Many  mistake  the  origin  of  Methodism  and  its 
primitive  character,  by  the  name  it  now  bears,  and  the 
period  when  that  name  was  given  it. 

It  is  the  spirit  of  Methodism,  its  Divine  qualities, 
that  marks  its  age  ;  qualities  that  link  it  with  the 
early  Apostles  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Paul  had  it, 
preached  it,  died  in  its  faith.  So  other  Apostles.  In 
the  upheavals  of  society  in  the  early  church,  the  spirit 
and  power  of  Methodism  became  comparatively  lost 
as  though  it  were  buried  forever. 

But  still  it  lived  ;  and  though  its  channels  were 
hidden,  yet  there  was  an  occasional  "  outburst  "  suf- 
ficient to  show  that  it  was  "  Living  Water "  all 
through  the  centuries,  until  that  grand  and  wonderful 
development  in  1729  in  Oxford,  England,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  Wesleys  and  others,  which 
was  attended  with  great  power,  so  that  surrounding 
churches  were  shaken  as  though  an  earthquake 
stirred  them. 

The  effect  still  remains,  and  spiritual  harvests  are 
still  reaped,  from  the  new  life  infused  by  the  instru- 
mentality of  Methodism. 

The  term,  Methodist,  was  originally  a  term  of  re- 
proach, consequent  upon  a  devout,  exact,  Methodical, 


6  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie, 

manner  of  living,  and  this  term  gradually  diplaced  the 
temporary  appellation  of  Bigot,  Fanatic  and  Holy  Club. 
Methodism  long  years  agone,  has  been  known  as 
"  Christianity  in  Earnest"  not  inappropriately  re- 
taining in  this  designation  its  primitive  character. 

Rightly  understood,  it  is  an  embodiment  of  sound 
Bible  doctrine,  of  deep  spirituality  ;  with  as  many 
clear  and  happy  conversions,  sanctified  lives,  and  tri- 
umphant deaths  as  any  church  extant,  in  proportion  to 
numbers. 

A  child  of  Providence ;  God  begotten,  God  cared 
for,  God  preserved  ;  her  doctrines  are  purely  Biblical, 
to  wit  :  The  doctrine  that  Christ  made  an  atonement 
for  sin  and  salvation  possible  to  all  sinners  ;  that  God 
pardons  the  guilty  on  true  repentance  toward  God,  and 
faith  on  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  That  it  is  the  office 
and  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  testify  to,  and  witness 
with  our  spirit,  that  we  are  the  children  of  God  by 
adoption  and  regeneration  ;  that  the  consummation  of 
a  true  Christian  life  is  the  sanctification  of  the  be- 
liever, and  an  abundant  entrance  into  Heaven. 

That  the  condition  of  our  justification  and  pardon, 
involves  faith  "  in  "  Christ,  and  faith  "  on  "  Christ. 

The  first  is  a  "  fact, "  by  which  we  apprehend  the 
atonement,  the  grand  scheme  of  redemption. 

The  second,  is  our  acceptance  of  the  fact,  and  our 
absolute  dependance  on  Christ ;  the  indispensable  con- 
dition of  our  justification.  Acts,  16:31. 

We  may  believe  "in  Christ,"  that  He  is  the  Saviour 
and  bids  us  come  to  Him,  that  we  might  have  life  ; 
but  we  "may  not  come." 

We  may  have  knowledge  of  a  possible  and  condi- 
tional redemption  by  Christ,  and  not  accept  it. 

We  must  go  farther  than  this  to  effect  our  personal 

salvation,  we  must  believe  "  on "   Christ.     I   believe 

in  "  a  boat,  as  a  means  of  crossing  a  river  in  safety  ; 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  7 

and  yet  fears  may  arise,  and  I  decline  to  enter  it.  I 
believe  "  on "  a  boat,  when  I  venture  in  it,  and 
stake  my  life  upon  it ;  lost  or  saved,  I  venture.  So 
we  believe  "  on "  Christ,  when  we  surrender  all  to 
Him,  and  stake  our  souls'  eternal  salvation  "<0# 
Hint  and  Him  alone  ;  accepting  Him  because  of  his 
infinite  merit,  immutable  promises  and  shed  blood." 
Just  here,  the  utterance  of  the  heart  and  lips  is  on  this 
wise  : 

"  Just  as  I  am  without  one  plea, 
But  that  Thy  blood  was  shed  for  me. 
And  that  thoubids't  me  come  to  Thee, 
O  Lamb  of  God,  I  come  !   I  come  !" 


The  Success  of    Methodism. 

It  is  no  vain  boast  to  say  that  for  the  hundred  years 
just  past,  the  success  of  Methodism  is  marvelous. 

In  numbers,  in  intelligence  and  piety,  in  wealth  and 
influence,  in  all  that  makes  a  church  good  ami  useful, 
Methodism  will  compare  favorably  with  any  Protest- 
ant denomination. 

In  all  her  existence,  her  mission  has  been  largely  to 
the  "poor,"  and  her  success  here  has  been  one  of  the 
grandest  features  of  her  conquest. 

It  was  one  of  the  grand  wonders  of  Messiah's  day. 
"  The  poor  have  the  gospel  preached  to  them."  Matt. 
1 1 15.  Worthy  to  be  catalogued  in  the  list  of  Mes- 
siah's triumphs.;  "with  sight  to  the  blind,  the  lame 
healed,  lepers  cleansed,  the  deaf  hear,  the  dead  raised, 
the  'poor'  have  the  gospel  preached  to  them." 

Wondrous  record  !  and  think  you  what  a  "  resur- 
rection power "  this  truth  has  been  to  unnumbered 
millions  of  poverty,  and  adversity.  The  Saviour  send- 
ing to  the  poorest  of  the  poor,  the  greatest  gift,  next 
to  Himself,  the  world  ever  knew,  "  The  Blessed  Gos- 
pel." 

Methodism  shall  never  blush  that  her  mission  was 
to  the  "poor"  as  well  as  the  "rich"  and  in  the  salva- 
rion  of  the  poor,  her  trophies  have  never  been  ex- 
celled in  the  world's  history.  May  we  inquire,  why 
this  triumph  ?  First  of  all,  "it  is  God's  work."  But 
then,  God  works  by  means,  by  instrumentalities  ! 

Has  not  God  designed  "  Methodism,"  one  of  the 
successful  agents  in  the  salvation  of  the  world  ?  and  if 
God  appointed,  God  knows  full  well,  the  adaptation 
of  the  means  to  the  end. 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  9 

We  have    before    hinted    at    the  "  Spirituality   of 
Methodism'' 

Is  not  this  the  "  lever  "  that  has  shifted  so  many 
from  the  domain  of  spiritual  poverty  to  affluence  ; 
that  has  lifted  up  vast  multitudes  out  of  the  very 
dregs  of  humanity,  and  made  them  kings  and  priests 
unto  God  ? 

Methodism  has  a  vital  power  in  her  "  Emotional 
Christianity."  Here  is  an  element  that  sways  human 
hearts,  binds  communities  and  churches,  where  there  is 
little  affinity  of  wealth  and  learning. 

The  sentiment  here  expressed  has  provoked  nomi- 
nal Christianity  to  scoff,  and  often  to  declare,  as  a 
"wild  enthusiasm,"  the  Divine  inspiration  of  an 
"emotional  Christianity." 

Reason   only,  it  is   alleged,  can  sway  sceptre  here. 

But  a  Christianity  that  lies  only  in  the  realm  of  rea- 
son, (and  this  is  no  plea  for  ignorance,)  that  does  not 
get  into  the  heart,  and  set  it  throbbing  with  Divine 
impulses,  such  a  Christianity  is  only  a  "  galvanized 
corpse."  Let  me  not  be  misunderstood  .here,  for  I 
have  no  sympathy  with  a  wild  fanaticism  in  the  church 
or  world. 

It  is  no  wild  enthusiasm,  this  sense  of  the  love  of 
God  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
given  unto  us  ;  of  a  power  Divine,  that  transforms 
from  sin  to  holiness,  melts  hard  hearts,  turns  hatred  to 
love,  grief  to  joy,  sighing  and  sadness  to  "joy  un- 
speakable and  full  of  glory."  We  plead,  for  an  "  emo- 
tional Christianity,"  a  Divine  influence  in  the  word, 
that  thrills  human  hearts,  a  Divine  comforter,  in  the 
indwelling  Holy  Ghost,  a  Divine  consolation  in  com- 
munion with  God  in  prayer,  hearts  all  aglow,  when 
tears  are  shed,  praise  is  uttered,  shouts  are  sometimes 
heard  and  the  indication  of  pentecost  apparent,  so  that 
even  in  modern  times,  when  and  where  God  pours  out 


io  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

His  spirit,  an  astonished  people  ask  as  in  olden  time, 
"What  meaneth  this  ?  " 

David  meant  all  this  and  even  more,  when  he  said, 
Psl.  35:9,  "My  soul  shall  rejoice,  it  shall  rejoice  in 
His  salvation." 

And  Paul ;  when  he  said,  "  The  God  of  hope  fill 
you  with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing." 

And  Peter;  when  he  said,  "  Believing,  ye  rejoice 
with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory." 

The  outcome  of  all  this  is,  ordinarily,  the  "  Cer- 
tainty of  our  spiritual  condition."  A  true  state  of 
grace,  an  "engrafting  into  Christ  the  true  vine." 
"  Born  again,  not  of  corruptible  seed,  but  incorrupti- 
ble," "  heirs  of  God,  and  joint  heirs  with  Jesus  Christ." 

Here  are  elements  of  testimony,  that  can  only  be 
ignored  by  a  rejection  of  Christianity  entire.  If  Mr. 
Wesley  ever  doubted  this,  it  was  before  his  heart  was 
"strangely  warmed,"  under  the  preaching  of  a  devout 
Moravian. 

That  "  strange  warmth  "  was  the  effusion  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  "wherein  God  witnessed  with  His  spirit  that 
He  was  a'  child  of  God,"  and  he  believed  it ;  preached 
it ;  died  under  its  influence,  exclaiming,  "  the  best  of 
all  is,  God  is  with  us  ! " 

For  further  reference  on  this  point,  I  refer  the 
reader  to  Isaiah,  12  1-2;  ist  John,  3:14;  Romans, 
8:15- 


Attachment  to  One's  Church. 

This  problem  is  not  difficult  to  solve,  especially 
when  our  attachments  are  widened,  deepened,  strength- 
ened by  a  life-long  consecration  and  service. 

Here  perchance  we  recognize  the  place  of  our  spir- 
itual birth,  and  it  may  be  that  here  we  have  spent 
long  years  of  earnest  work  in  the  communion  and  fel- 
lowship of  the  saints. 

Families  have  dwelt  here  in  sweet  fellowship  ;  here 
sainted  ones  we  loved  so  much  matured  for  heaven  ; 
multitudes  rejoiced  with  hearts  all  aglow,  with  the  bap- 
tism of  fire. 

In  the  church's  true  history,  there  is  a  bond  of  at- 
tachment hard  to  sever  ;  and  it  is  meet  that  the  gen- 
eration of  Methodists  following  in  succession  should 
be  made  familiar  with  the  steps  trodden  by  a  parent- 
age safely  housed,  their  toils,  sacrifices,  triumphs.  The 
cost  of  Methodism  should  never  be  forgotten  so  long 
as  our  church  endures ;  the  cost  of  Methodism  to  its 
pioneers,  in  this  city  or  elsewhere  :  Those  who  have 
gone  before  us  and  left  us  an  example  that  we  might 
tread  in  their  steps. 

Before  proceeding  directly  to  our  church  history,  I 
desire  to  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  the  research 
and  labors  of  Doct.  Wm.  H.  Ferris,  now  deceased. 
•  I  was  not  aware  of  any  publication  by  Doct.  Ferris,  or 
any  other,  until  I  had  made  a  careful  research  of  our 
church  history,  from  r78o  to  1830.  The  result  of  this 
research  was  so  near  akin  to  the  facts  published  by 
Doct.  Ferris,  that  I  at  once  decided  to  avail  myself  of 
his  printed  sheet  as  to  some  facts  recorded  in  this 


12  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

volume.  All  honor  to  Doct.  Ferris  for  his  tribute  to 
early  Methodism. 

As  early  as  1 788-89,  Methodist  societies  were  or- 
ganized in  Rhinebeck  and  other  adjacent  places. 

Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson  must  have  passed  Pough- 
keepsie frequently  in  his  evangelistic  labors. 

The  first  church  edifice  erected  in  Poughkeepsie  was 
the  Reformed  Dutch,  located  on  the  north  side  of 
Main  east  of  the  Poughkeepsie  Hotel,  now  the  Nel- 
son House  Annex. 

Tradition  intimates  that  a  small  church  was  first 
erected  on  the  south  side  of  Main  street,  corner  of 
Market  street,  and  was  subsequently  removed  to  the 
north  side  of  the  street.  The  writer  well  remembers 
when  there  was  a  break  into  the  old  grave  yard,  corner 
of  Main  and  Market  streets,  for  the  removal  of  the 
dead.  The  excitement  for  and  against  was  quite  equal 
to  the  political  squabbles  of  the  present  day,  but  the 
dead  were  removed  nevertheless. 

Dutchess  circuit,  the  beginning  of  Methodism  in 
this  section,  first  appears  in  the  minutes  of  the  New 
York  Conference  in  1 788.  The  circuit  extended  from 
Albany  on  the  north  to  Connecticut  and  Massachu- 
setts on  the  east,  the  Highlands  on  the  south.  There 
were  two  preachers  on  this  circuit,  Cornelius  Cook 
and  Andrew  Harpending.  Cook  died  the  next  year, 
and  Harpending  was  expelled  the  year  following.  In 
1789  Samuel  O.  Talbot  and  Benjamin  Abbott  were 
the  circuit  preachers.  The  membership  of  the  entire 
circuit  at  this  date  was  203.  It  is  supposed  that  Tal- 
bot preached  the  first  Methodist  sermon  on  New  Eng- 
land soil.  It  was  in  the  barroom  of  a  tavern  in  Salis- 
bury, Connecticut,  some  six  months  before  Jesse  Lee 
entered  New  England. 

Benjamin  Abbott,  the  associate  of  Talbot,  was  a 
son  of  thunder,  with  little  culture  or  refinement,  but 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  1 3 

great  goodness  and  power.      After  a  holy  and   useful 
life  he  died  in  1 796. 

In  1790  Peter  Moriarty  and  Menzinas  Raynorwere 
the  spiritual  shepherds,  and  the  membership  of  the 
circuit  had  increased  to  410.  Hallock  followed,  in 
1791.  Moriarty,  a  faithful  and  useful  man,  was  found 
several  years  later,  lifeless,  in  his  bed  at  Hillsdale. 

Thomas  Everard,  Zebulon  Zanky,  Samuel  Fowler, 
Robert  McCoy,  Jacob  Rickhow,  and  David  Brown 
followed  as  preachers  on  the  circuit.  They  were 
aided  by  the  indefatigable  "  Garrettson,"  as  Presiding 
Elder. 

In  1795  Peter  Moriarty  returned  to  Dutchess 
circuit,  and  remained  two  years,  with  David  Brown, 
and  Samuel  Fowler  as  colleagues. 

It  was  not  until  "1796,"  that  the  voice  of  a 
Methodist  preacher  was  heard  in  Poughkeepsie. 
During  that  year  Freeborn  Garrettson  preached  one 
sermon  in  the  Reformed  church  ;  then  standing  on 
the  North  side  of  Main  Street. 

Four  years  after  Wm.  Thacher  came  to  this  city, 
then  having  a  population  of  four  thousand,  and 
preached  in  the  court  house.  He  had  good  and 
respectful  audiences.  After  some  half  dozen  sermons, 
without  gathering  any  fruits,  this  field  was  again 
abandoned.  While  preaching  here,  Thacher  was  the 
guest  of  Thomas  Haywood  living  one-third  mile  south 
of  the  city.  Here  he  became  acquainted  with  Col. 
W.  Pearce  from  Pawling,  this  county,  who  was 
attending  court.  Pearce  was  a  thoughtless,  worldly 
man.  At  family  prayer,  led  by  Thacher,  he  was 
awakened,  and  invited  the  minister  to  come  to 
Pawling,  and  preach.  Thacher  went  and  introduced 
Methodism  there.  His  failure  in  Poughkeepsie 
opened  an  effectual  door  20  miles  away. 

"In  the  morning  sow  thy  seed,  in  the  evening  with- 


14  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

hold  not  thy  hand,  for  thou  knowest  not  which  shall 
prosper." 

In  1800  or  1 80 1  Bishop  Asbury  visited  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  said  of  it,  "  This  is  no  place  for  Metho- 
dism." He  was  a  great  evangelist,  but  no  prophet. 

At  this  period,  we  find  the  following  names  in  the 
list  of  circuit  preachers :  Philip  Wager,  Joseph 
Mitchell,  Jacob  Rickhow,  Billy  Hibbard,  Joseph  Tot- 
ten,  Roger  Searle.  In  1800  Wm.  Thacher  and  Peter 
Jacques  were  pastors.  The  territory  of  Dutchess 
Circuit  had  been  divided,  and  its  dimensions  were 
nearly  confined  to  Dutchess  county.  The  Member- 
ship was  321. 

In  1801  David  Brown,  Wm.  Thacher,  and  Lorenzo 
Dow  were  on  the  circuit.  But  yet,  no  germ  of 
Methodism  appeared  in  this  city. 

In  1802  Sylvester  Foster  and  Billy  Hibbard 
manned  the  circuit.  Hibbard  died  in  1844,  after  a 
useful  life.  As  the  veil  of  immortality  was  lifted  he 
said,  "  My  soul  is  as  calm  as  a  summer  evening." 

The  Rev.  F.  Garrettson,  P.  E.,  made  another  fruit- 
less effort  to  plant  the  tree  of  Methodism  here.  There 
was,  however,  at  this  time  one  member,  John  Giles. 
He  had  been  a  member  of  the  society  in  Ireland,  and 
was  at  this  time  connected  with  a  class  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  river. 

The  third  effort  of  Mr.  Garrettson  to  introduce 
Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie  was  made  in  1803  or 
1804,  fifteen  years  after  Methodism  had  been  intro- 
duced into  the  county.  Garrettson  preached  here  in 
a  private  house,  and  the  first  evening  formed  a  class 
of  Chas.  H.  Duncomb,  Polly  Duncomb  and  John 
Giles.  The  service  was  held  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Dun- 
comb  at  334  Main  street,  and  it  was  here  the  first 
class  was  formed  by  Garrettson.  The  second  day  after, 
Peter  Ladue  and  wife  joined  the  class,  making  five 


Methodism  in  PougJikcepsie.  1 5 

persons  in  all.  The  room  occupied  by  Garrettson  as 
the  preaching  place  was  the  "garret,"  an  outside  flight 
of  steps  ascending  to  it. 

In  1803  Jas.  Colman  and  Hibbard  were  the  circuit 
preachers.  Colman  died  in  1842.  Hibbard  continued 
in  1804,  aided  by  Datus  Ensign.  Under  the  preach- 
ing of  the  former  in  the  upper  room,  the  class  was  in- 
creased to  eight  persons,  among  those  added  were  Mr. 
Hay  wood  and  wife.  In  1805,  Frances  Ward  and 
Robt.  Dillon  were  the  spiritual  guides.  Thacher  was 
the  presiding  elder.  There  were  496  members  on  the 
entire  circuit. 

Tradition  says  that  the  first  Methodist  prayer  meet- 
ing ever  held  in  Poughkeepsie  was  at  the  house  of  John 
Low,  on  the  recent  site  of  the'  Cannon  street  church. 

In  subsequent  years,  ministers  who  visited  this  city, 
would  sometimes  gain  access  to  the  court  house  and 
preach  there. 

In  1805  the*  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
erected. 

It  is  related  that  Brother  Duncomb,  whose  garret 
had  become  too  small,  growing  anxious  for  the  future 
prosperity  of  the  church,  and  desirous  to  have  a  better 
place  of  worship,  fell  asleep  and  dreamed.  In  his  vision 
on  his  bed  a  man  stood  before  him,  whose  name 
was  Levi  McKeen.  This  gentleman  was  at  that  time 
a  man  of  considerable  means  and  prominent  as  a  busi- 
ness man  of  this  city.  Duncomb  dreamed  that  he 
asked  of  him  and  obtained  a  gift  of  a  lot  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  dreamer 
awoke,  told  his  dream  to  McKeen,  who  freely  gave 
the  lot  on  Jefferson  street,  50  feet  front,  for  the  pur- 
pose desired. 

McKeen  was  at  one  time  a  Methodist  local  preacher, 
but  at  this  time  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  He  died  in  1852  at  Fishkill-on-the-Hudson. 


1 6  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

On  this  lot  a  church  building  was  erected  30  feet 
long  and  40  fe,et  wide,  so  built  that  its  dimensions 
might  be  easily  increased.  This,  however,  was  never 
done.  This  building  was  plastered  and  sealed  below 
the  galleries,  but  the  upper  part  remained  unfinished 
until  1814. 

In  1806,  Dutchess  circuit  (still  including  Pough- 
keepsie),  was  manned  by  D.  Ostrander,  F.  Ward  and 
R.  Dillon.  After  these  came  Vredenburgh,  Swazey, 
Moriarty,  Planey,  Cook,  and  Smith  Arnold. 

In  1810  E.  Woolsey,  Z.  Lyon  and  Smith  Arnold 
were  on  the  circuit,  and  reported  a  membership  of 
955,  the  territory  being  reduced.  These  were  followed 
in  1811  by  Elijah  Woolsey  and  Peter  Bussing; 
and  in  1812,  by  W.  Anson,  W.  Swazey  and  Marvin 
Richardson,  and  these  by  Coles  Carpenter  and  Samuel 
Luckey. 

In  1814  J.  M.  Smith,  P.  Cook  and  Coles  Carpenter 
were  the  appointees.  During  this  year,  'there  came  a 
gracious  revival.  Smith  was  a  man  of  great  spiritual 
power,  and  about  200  were  converted.  Great  was 
the  joy  of  the  little  band,  that  had  been  waiting, 
praying,  believing,  for  such  a  result. 

It  was  at  this  time  the  church  on  Jefferson  Street, 
was  being  completed.  For  a  time,  the  society  had 
worshipped  in  the  court  house,  where  the  Word 
preached  was  attended  with  power. 

Poughkeepsie  formed  a  part  of  the  Dutchess  circuit, 
until  August,  1814.  It  was  then  made  a  station 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Smith.  At  this 
time  the  flock  had  grown  from  5  to  143.  Rev.  Win. 
Jewett  succeeded  in  1816. 

In  1817  W.  Thacher  was  appointed  to  the  charge, 
but  on  account  of  ill  health  failed  to  reach  it,  and 
Poughkeepsie  was  again  thrown  back  into  the  circuit. 


Methodism  in  Poitglikccpsic.  17 

Then  followed  Samuel  Cochran,  J.  B.  Matthias,  A. 
Pierce,  L.  Andrus,  S.  Arnold,  J.  Hunt,  J.  M.  Smith, 
O.  Sykes,  J.  Reynolds,  and  A.  Scofield. 

In  1823,  Poughkeepsie  again  became  and  has  since 
remained  a  station,  Robert  Seney  was  appointed 
pastor.  The  membership  at  that  time  was  157 
whites,  10  colored,  a  total  of  167. 

James  Young  was  the  preacher  in  1824,  and  A. 
Pearce  in  1825. 

In  1826  the  old  church  in  Jefferson  Street,  was 
torn  down.  It  had  stood  about  twenty  years,  and  had 
been  honored  with  the  conversion  of  a  multitude  of 
souls,  one  of  the  last  ministers  that  graced  its  pulpit 
for  a  Sabbath,  was  the  sainted  John  Summerneld. 
When  the  old  church  was  demolished,  there  were 
182  members.  The  total  cost  of  this  church  up  to 
1818,  was  $2,773.43,  on  which  was  paid  $1,783.23, 
leaving  a  balance  of  $990. 20.  This  debt  was  carried 
for  seven  years,  until  the  erection  of  the  new  church 
on  Washington  Street.  The  report  from  1805,  con- 
tinuous to  1818,  is  signed  Moses  Armstrong  and  S. 
H.  Weed,  committee,  and  declared  correct.  The 
only  question  at  issue  in  all  this  period,  was  a  matter 
of  "  interest,"  amounting  to  $20.09,  and  on  this  the 
committee  were  divided.  At  the  time  of  the  erection 
of  the  new  church,  the  debt  on  the  old  was  report- 
ed at  $900. 

The  time  had  come  for  the  erection  of  a  new 
church.  It  was  a  great  event  in  the  history  of  the 
society,  the  more  so,  as  it  was  determined  to  build  in 
the  "centre"  of  the  town.  The  Methodist  Church 
had  never  had  a  fair  show  in  Poughkeepsie,  owing  to 
its  location.  A  "  by  street,"  and  sparse  population 
surrounding  it. 

About  this  time  there  came  a  gentleman  from 
Virginia,  seeking  a  residence  in  Poughkeepsie. 


1 8  Methodism  in  Poughkcepsie. 

His  preferences  for  Methodism  were  very  posi- 
tive and  decided,  and  all  efforts  to  prevent  his 
union  with  the  Methodist  Church  were  unavailing. 
He  had  intimated  very  decidedly  that  something  must 
be  done  to  secure  for  a  Methodist  Church,  a  more 
eligible  site,  and  better  edifice.  While  this  gentle- 
man was  passing  through  Washington  Street  one 
morning,  he  saw  a  group  of  men,  to  whom  the  sheriff 
of  the  county  was  about  to  sell  the  ground  on  which 
the  Washington  Street  Church  was  afterward  built. 
He  stopped,  balanced  the  thing  in  his  mind,  and  his 
favorite  project  of  a  Methodist  Church  in  the  midst 
of  the  people  flashed  upon  him.  No  time  was  to  be 
lost.  He  offered  $500.  Other  bids  were  made.  He 
finally  offered  $650  and  then  walked  slowly  away. 
The  sharp  rap  of  the  auctioneer,  however,  called  him 
back,  to  learn  that  the  property  was  his.  A  Friend 
proposed  to  buy  it  of  the  purchaser,  and  inquired, 
"  How  much  wilt  thou  take  for  thy  bargain  ?  "  When 
informed  that  it  was  not  for  sale,  and  that  a  Metho- 
dist Church  was  to  be  erected  there,  he  and  the 
people  were  surprised  and  startled,  and  the  Quaker 
responded,  "  Why  !  the  Methodists  have  no  money 
to  build  with  ?  "  He  was  assured  the  money  would 
be  forthcoming.  And  it  was.  It  was  true,  the 
society  had  no  funds,  and  worse  still,  they  were  $900 
in  debt  on  their  old  church.  Of  this  amount  $400 
was  due  to  John  Giles,  which  he  forgave.  Honor  to 
John  Giles.  Honor,  and  gratitude  to  " Josiah 
Williams"  who  purchased  the  lots,  and  loaned  the 
society  the  money  for  the  new  church.  He  became 
an  honored  member  of  the  church,  and  so  remained 
until  called  to  his  reward. 

The  new  church  was  erected,  and  was  the  same  di- 
mensions of  the  old  one.  Forty  by  fifty  feet,  with  base- 
ment and  galleries.  Its  seating  capacity  was  about 


Methodism  in  Ponghkeepsie.  19 

500.  It  was  dedicated  December  7th,  1826.  Nathan 
Bangs,  D.D.,  preaching  morning  and  evening,  and  S. 
Luckey,  in  the  afternoon.  Great  was  the  joy  of  the 
people  in  their  new  sanctuary. 

In  1827  and  1828  Marvin  Richardson  was  the 
stationed  minister.  William  Jewett  succeeded,  the 
two  following  .years,  and  reduced  the  debt  of  the 
church  from  $i,8ooto  $1,200  by  subscription.  The 
writer  was  received  into  the  church  by  him,  and  the 
minister  little  dreamed,  when  he  laid  his  hands  upon 
the  head  of  the  boy  in  baptism,  that  this  boy  would 
live  to  preach  his  funeral  sermon,  and  bury  him,  which 
was  the  fact. 

W.  Thacher  was  the  pastor  in  1831  and  1832.  He 
said  of  the  church,  "The  Methodists  of  Poughkeep- 
sie  are  remarkable  for  their  peace  and  brotherly  love." 
He  built  a  new  parsonage  in  the  place  of  the  old  one 
at  a  cost  of  $1,800,  $1,200  of  which  was  raised  on 
subscription.  During  his  administration  there  was  a 
gracious  revival,  aided  by  Rev.  John  Newland  Maffitt. 
The  church  was  also  enlarged  by  adding  fourteen  feet 
to  the  length,  at  a  cost  of  $700. 

The  New  York  Annual  Conference  held  its  session 
here  in  the  spring  of  1833,  then  consisting  of  158 
preachers. 

Such  had  been  the  growth  of  the  society  in  its  new 
home  that  it  now  had  402  white  and  47  colored  mem- 
bers. Since  then  the  African  M.  E.  Z.  Church  has 
been  organized,  and  most  of  our  colored  friends  at- 
tend it. 

In  1833-34,  George  Coles  was  the  preacher,  and  the 
next  year  J.  Z.  Nichols. 

S.  L.  Stillman  was  pastor  in  1836-37.  During  his 
stay  there  was  a  gracious  revival  and  the  membership 
increased  to  6 1 6.  The  church  became  too  small,  or 
rather  the  congregation  outgrew  the  church,  and  the 


2O  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

Quarterly  Conference  appointed  a  committee  to  select 
a  site  for  a  second  church.  The  great  revulsion  in 
business  which  followed,  discouraged  the  effort  and 
the  committee  were  discharged. 

Charles  W.  Carpenter  was  the  pastor  in  1838-39. 
During  his  administration  the  second  or  Cannon  street 
Church  was  organized. 

The  succeeding  list  of  pastors  of  Washington  street 
Church  to  the  present  time,  1892,15  as  follows:  P. 
P.  Sanford,  Robert  Seeney,  J.  Lindsey,  B.  Griffen, 
M.  L.  Scudder,  (during  his  term  the  church  was  re- 
modeled and  greatly  improved),  L.  M.  Vincent,  W. 
H.  Ferris,  L.  H.  King,  Z.  N.  Lewis,  M.  D'C.  Craw- 
ford, G.  S.  Hare,  S.  D.  Brown,  J.  L.  G.  McKown, 
DeLoss  Lull,  J.  E.  Cookman,  W.  G.  W.  Lewis,  Q.  J. 
Collins,  William  Lloyd,  J.  P.  McClelland,  c7  R. 
North,  G.  S.  Hare  (2d  term),  F.  L.  Wilson,  W.  H. 
Hatfield,  C.  H.  Snedecor. 

Present  trustees  of  Washington  street  M.  E.  Church, 
1892  :  W.  T.  Reynolds,  C.  L.  Dates,  J.  F.  Marble, 
J.  H.  Hickok,  Julius  Jillson,  Geo.  E.  Cramer, 
Mitchell  Downing,  Henry  Tittamer,  J.  J.  Palmer. 

During  the  pastorate  of  G.  S  Hare,  the  present 
church  edifice  was  erected.  It  was  dedicated  during 
the  pastorate  of  S.  D.  Brown.  The  cost  of  the  site 
was  $6,500.  The  entire  cost  of  ground,  edifice  and 
furniture,  $29,400.03.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  by 
G.  S.  Hare.  Dr.  Stockton,  of  Philadelphia,  preached 
in  the  old  church  in  the  afternoon.  The  church  was 
dedicated  Sept.  7th,  1859.  Dr.  J.  McClintock 
preached  in  the  morning  from  2  Cor.,  10:3-5,  and  dedi- 
cated the  church.  Dr.  Hare  preached  in  the  evening. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  G.  Hare  in  1858  and 
1859,  and  John  E.  Cookman  in  1865  and  1866,  there 
were  powerful  revivals  of  religion.  Among  the  con- 
verts of  the  latter,  was  the  now  sainted  L.  O.  Winslow. 


Cannon   Street   M.    E.   Church. 

The  origin  of  the  Cannon  Street  Church  was  on 
this  wise  :  In  the  year  1839,  tne  Baptists  having 
built  a  new  church  in  La  Fayette  Place,  vacated  their 
old  edifice  on  Mill  Street,  where  the  new  Baptist 
Church  now  stands.  This  was  thought  a  providential 
opening.  C.  W.  Carpenter,  the  pastor,  called  a 
church  meeting  in  the  basement  of  the  Washington 
Street  Church,  to  consider  the  propriety  of  a  second 
church  organization.  After  due  consideration,  a 
majority  sanctioned  the  enterprise.  The  trustees  of 
Washington  Street  Church  were  instructed  to  hire  the 
old  Baptist  Church.  They  did  so  ;  and  in  April, 
1840,  Brother  Carpenter  organized  the  second  M.  E. 
Church  in  Poughkeepsie.  Soon  after,  Thomas  M. 
Brewer,  Thomas  Simpson,  William  Wall  Reynolds, 
Edmund  B.  Bailey,  Henry  Wray,  David  Norris,  and 
Egbert  B.  Killey,  were  elected  trustees,  and  assumed 
the  financial  responsibilities  of  the  new  enterprise. 
At  the  time  of  this  organization,  or  at  the  next  report 
of  members,  there  were  318  members  in  the  old 
church,  and  156  in  the  new. — Total  474. 

In  1842  the  Baptists  sold  their  church  in  Mill 
Street  to  the  Universalists,  and  on  the  ist  of  Novem- 
ber of  that  year  the  new  society  vacated,  and  for  a 
while  held  their  services  in  the  Village  Hall.  Soon, 
however,  they  gained  possession  of  the  court  house, 
and  continued  to  worship  there  until  the  present 
Cannon  Street  Church  was  completed.  In  1843  the 
new  society  purchased  the  property  on  Union  Street, 
fronting  Market  Square,  for  the  site  of  a  new  church. 
This  was  subsequently  exchanged  for  lots  in  Cannon 


22  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

Street.  Nathaniel  Hill,  Egbert  B.  Killey,  and  Robert 
Brower  were  appointed  a  building  committee.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  by  Bishop  Janes,  May  26th, 
1845.  The  total  cost  of  the  ground  and  edifice  was 
$8,650.  It  was  dedicated  on  Christmas  day,  Dec. 
25th,  1845.  The  dedicatory  prayer  was  offered  by 
Bishop  Hedding.  Joseph  Cross  preached  in  the 
morning,  and  D.  W.  Clark,  since  pastor  of  the  church, 
and  Bishop,  in  the  evening. 

Fitch  Reed  was  the  first  pastor,  in  1840-41.  Since 
then  there  have  been  the  following  overseers  of  the 
flock  :  Hart  F.  Pease,  J.  B.  Merwin,  who  was  in 
poor  health  and  assisted  by  B.  M.  Genung.  Then 
followed  S.  Van  Deusen,  G.  F.  Kettell,  D.  W.  Clark, 
R.  A.  Chalker,  J.  W.  Beach,  L.  W.  Peck,  G.  F. 
Kettell,  and  W.  J.  Foss  (he  preached  one  Sabbath 
and  went  to  heaven),  G.  W.  Lord,  L.  P.,  supplied 
the  pulpit  that  year.  Then  came  A.  D.  Vail,  A.  M. 
Hough,  A.  McLean,  L.  G.  Romaine,  E.  R.  Keyes, 
E.  L.  Prentice,  M.  S.  Terry,  P.  R.  Hawxhurst,  W. 
H.  Ferris,  Winslow  W.  Seaver,  C.  W.  Millard,  E. 
S.  Osbpn,  J.  Ackerman,  G.  H.  Gregory,  assisted  by 
G.  W.  Knapp,  up  to  1892. 


Trinity  M.  E.  Church. 

In  the  progress  of  1891-92  the  society  of  Cannon 
Street  Church,  with  commendable  zeal  and  great 
liberality,  resolved  on  a  new  church  enterprise.  Lots 
were  secured  on  Montgomery  Street,  adjacent  to  the 
Old  Ladies'  Home,  a  fine  church  edifice  was  erected, 
and  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Andrews,  in  May,  1892. 
The  cost  of  the  property  was  $58,000.  This  noble 
work  has  been  largely  accomplished  by  the  inde- 
fatigable labors  of  Rev.  G.  H  Gregory,  D.D.,  and  his 
assistant,  Rev.  Robert  Knapp. 

The  society  of  the  Cannon  Street  Church  reports, 
in  1892,  a  membership  of  483.  One  Sunday-school, 
34  officers  and  teachers,  240  scholars. 

The  trustees,  in  1892,  are  J.  P.  H.  Tallman,  W. 
Farrington,  H.  D.  Hufcut,  J.  Lyke,  W.  C.  Dobbs, 
J.  W.  Barrett,  J.  J.  Bahret  and  Dr.  J.  S.  Wilson. 

In  the  winter  of  1853,  the  overcrowded  condition 
of  the  mother  church  in  Washington  street  gave 
strong  intimations  that  the  time  to  colonize  had  again 
come.  Many  families  had  made  application  for  seats 
and  could  not  be  accommodated.  Then  there  was  a 
rapidly  increasing  population  in  the  western  part  of 
the  town,  with  no  Protestant,  English  speaking 
church.  After  due  consideration,  a  meeting  was  called 
in  the  Lecture  Room  of  the  Washington  street  Church, 
March  2ist,  1853.  The  matter  was  fully  discussed, 
and  it  was  decided  with  great  unanimity,  that  such  an 
enterprise  was  demanded,  and  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  secure  lots.  Lots  were  purchased  of  Capt. 
A.  Underwood,  and  in  June  following,  the  third 
church  edifice  was  begun,  in  South  Clover  street, 


24  Methodism  in  Ponghkeepsic. 

where  the  Hedding  Church  now  stands.  John  Long- 
field  and  Seneca  Hallovvay  were  the  builders.  A  col- 
ony of  about  70  from  Washington  street  united  ia  the 
enterprise,  most  of  them  residents  in  the  western  part 
of  the  city. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  each  of  the  branch 
churches  is  from  the  parent  vine,  and  was  planted  by 
the  consent  and  advice  of  our  godly  mother.  There 
was  no  violent  rending  asunder.  The  offshoots  were 
goodly  daughters,  going  out  with  the  blessings  of  a 
mother  to  establish  households  of  their  own,  and  rear 
children  for  God.  At  the  May  Conference  of  1853, 
a  pastor  was  appointed.  There  was  no  parsonage,  fur- 
niture, church,  congregation,  or  Sunday  school.  All 
there  was  of  it  was  a  $5  bill  toward  a  new  church. 
The  German  M.  E.  Church  in  Bridge  street  was 
rented.  A  Sunday  school  was  organized  May  22d, 
and  the  church  the  3oth  of  the  same  month.  Soon 
the  little  church  was  crowded,  and  as  the  weather  grew 
warmer,  the  open  windows  let  in,  not  only  the  fresh 
air,  but  the  sound  of  the  worshippers  below, — our 
German  brethren, — and  there  was  a  strange  mingling 
of  kindred  spirits,  but  discordant  sounds.  During  the 
summer  a  Sunday  afternoon  service  was  held  in  North 
Clover  street,  under  the  trees.  Here  nearly  a  thous- 
and people  listened  'to  the  gospel. 

Dec.  3ist,  1853,  the  first  religious  service  was  held 
in  the  Lecture  Room  of  the  Hedding  Church.  It 
was  a  watch  meeting,  several  were  converted.  The 
corner  stone  had  been  laid  late  in  July,  Phineas  Rice, 
presiding  elder,  officiating,  aided  by  L  B.  Wakeley, 
W.  W.  Jewettand  L.  H.  King.  April  5th,  following, 
the  church  was  dedicated,  Bishop  Janes,  officiating. 
He  preached  in  the  morning,  H.  Mattison,  D.  D.,  in 
the  afternoon,  and  R.  S.  Foster,  D.  D.,  in  the  even- 
ing. 


Methodism  in  Pong  It  keep  sic.  25 

The  cost  of  church'and  grounds  was  about  $13,000. 
The  pastor  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school 
and  acting  building  committee,  and  financial  agent. 

There  was  a  great  revival  in  the  winter  of  '54  and 
'55.  The  membership  increased  to  290  and  the  Sun- 
day school  to  425.  The  following  is  the  list  of  pas- 
tors :  W.  H.  Ferris,  S.  Fitch,  W.  C.  Smith,  J.  B. 
Wakeley,  L.  H.  King,  B.  M.  Adams,  D.  Buck,  W.  C. 
Smith,  G.  H.  Gregory,  A.  L.  Culver,  W.  H.  Evans, 
Edmund  Lewis,  F.  Hamlin,  R.  H.  Travis,  D.  H.  Han- 
naburgh,  Andrew  Schriver,  Fields  Hermance.  At 
the  time  of  dedication  the  Official  Board  consisted  of 
Longfield,  Cramer,  Brooks,  Halloway,  Secor,  Frost, 
Clark,  Sutton,  Cookingham,  Lee  and  Cornell.  The 
pastor  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 

Hedding  Church  in  1892,  reports  a  membership  of 
481.  One  Sunday  school,  40  officers  and  teachers, 
300  scholars, — all  is  bright  and  promising  before  them 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Hermance. 

The  trustees  in  1892  are  :  Solomon  B.  Wheeler, 
Eli  Sutcliffe,  John  Schickle,  Joseph  Gillen,  Wm.  H. 
Weddle,  Wm.  Halpin,  James  Harris,  George  1. 
Smith,  Charles  W.  Baird. 

The  colored  M.  E.  Zion  Church  was  organized  in 
1837.  The  first  church  edifice  in  Catharine  Street 
was  built  about  1843,  and  the  present  one  in  1860. 
Present  membership  60.  Prior  to  their  becoming  a 
separate  body,  they  worshipped  with  their  white 
brethren.  At  one  time,  nearly  50  years  ago,  there 
were  58  colored  members  of  Washington  Street 
Church. 

The  German  M.  E.  Church  in  Bridge  Street  was 
built  in  1850.  July  iith,  1847,  the  first  sermon  in 
German  preached  by  J.  Sauter,  presiding  elder,  in 
Jay  Street,  in  the  house  of  Jacob  Bahret.  Durstein 
preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  house  of  Harry  Kid- 


26  Methodism  in  Ponghkeepsie. 

ney,  Jefferson  Street,  to  15  persons.  April  7th,  1850. 
the  first  service  was  held  in  the  basement  of  the  new 
church  in  Bridge  Street.  On  Sept.  22d,  1850,  the 
church  was  dedicated  by  C.  Lyon,  presiding  elder. 
The  Sunday-school  was  organized  corner  Church  and 
Jefferson  Streets,  in  November,  1847.  There  were 
15  scholars.  S.  Halloway  was  superintendent ;  A.  P. 
Lent,  assistant  ;  Thomas  M.  Brewer,  secretary, 
and  Sylvia  Kidney,  teacher.  John  Flad,  the  pastor. 
The  society  was  first  organized  by  C.  Lyon,  in  the 
Washington  Street  Church.  D.  Durstein  was  the 
missionary,  aided  by  a  German  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  Jacob  Bahret.  The  little  band  wor- 
shiped at  Durstein's  house,  corner  Church  and  Jeffer- 
son Streets,  until  November,  1849,  an<^  later,  while 
their  church  building  was  going  up,  in  the  school 
house  in  Church  Street.  Their  growth  was  rapid. 
Their  first  report  in  1851  shows  a  membership  of  51. 
There  was  then  no  other  German  church  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  now  there  are  three,  and  a  Jewish  synagogue, 
mostly  German.  The  emigration  to  the  west,  and 
the  tendency  of  their  people  to  the  English  churches, 
has  thinned  their  ranks.  Present  membership  82. 
Present  trustees  of  the  German  M.  E.  Church,  in 
1892,  are  Berthold  Seeholzer,  Ferdinand  Ebling, 
Wm.  Koch,  Wm.  Scheu,  Chris  Sorg,  Chas.  Triller 
and  Louis  Degenhart. 

Poughkeepsie  has  been  successively  included  in  the 
New  York,  Rhinebeck,  Ashgrove,  Rhinebeck,  New 
Haven  and  Rhinebeck  districts.  In  1835  it  gave 
name  to  the  district  in  which  it  is  included  and  has  so 
continued. 

The  succession  of  presiding  elders,  beginning  with 
1 788,  is  given  below  :  F.  Garrettson,  George  Roberts, 
F.  Garrettson,  Sylvester  Hutchinson,  F.  Garrettson, 
W.  Thacher,  Peter  Moriarty,  A.  Hunt,  Peter  Moriar- 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  27 

ty,  Elijah  Woolsey,  Nathan  Bangs,  Ebenezer  Wash- 
burn,  Samuel  Merwin,  Samuel  Luckey,  D.  Ostrander, 
P.  P.  Sanford,  P.  Rice,  M.  Richardson,  P.  P.  San- 
ford,  N.  White,  W.  Jewett,  M.  Richardson,  P.  Rice, 
S.  Martindale,  L.  M.  Vincent,  A.  C.  Foss,  J.  B. 
Wakeley,  A.  M.  Osbon,  M.  D'C.  Crawford,  W.  Goss, 
De  Loss  Lull,  A.  K.  Sanford,  A.  H.  Ferguson,  Geo. 
S.  Hare,  R.  H.  Travis,  to  1892. 

It  would  be  an  interesting,  and  a  painfully  pleasant 
task,  to  record  the  names  of  all  the  sacramental  host 
that  have  finished  their  course.  Ministers,  laymen, 
holy  men  and  holy  women,  who  have  toiled  with  us, 
and  gone  from  us.  To  record  their  deeds,  their 
virtues,  and  their  holy  triumphs.  But  they  are  too 
many.  Are  not  their  names  in  the  book  of  life  ? 
Are  they  not  in  the  Father's  house  of  many  mansions  ? 
Noble,  pure  men  and  women  they  were,  born  at  our 
altars.  They  used  their  armor  well  and  kept  it  bright. 
They  are  victors  now.  They  wear  crowns  gemmed 
with  jewels.  O  !  what  a  throng !  There  they  are  ! 
They  live — for  they  have  never  ceased  to  live.  We 
remember  them,  their  looks,  their  words,  their  works, 
their  songs,  their  prayers,  their  sermons,  their  last 
battle  with  death,  their  complete  triumph.  They 
whispered  victory  from  pale  lips.  It  beamed  from 
their  countenances  ;  they  waved  it  back  with  hands 
chilled  in,the  waters  of  Jordan.  They  have  reached 
HOME.  There  the  glory  fades  not,  and  temple  wor- 
ship never  ends.  Some  have  just  gone.  Their  light 
yet  lingers.  Their  footsteps  are  visible  on  the  sands 
where  they  entered  the  river.  We  have  not  forgotten 
them.  Their  names,  their  memories,  are  fragrant. 
They  have  not  forgotten  us.  We  go  to  meet  them. 
They  wait  our  coming.  It  is  not  far.  Twill  not  be 
long.  Side  by  side,  we  have  kneeled  at  the  same 
church  altar.  Side  by  side,  within  the  veil,  we  shall 


28  Methodism  in  Poughkecpsic. 

worship  forever.  How  many  are  there  ?  More  than 
are  here.  No  temple  of  God  in  this  city  could  hold 
them.  A  cloud  of  witnesses.  From  the  rude  garret 
in  Main  Street ;  from  the  little  chapel  in  Jefferson 
Street ;  from  the  old  edifice  in  Washington  Street  ; 
from  court  house  and  church  of  modern  structure, 
they  have  gone  up  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb, 
to  the  city  where  night  never  comes.  They  are  ours 
still.  We  are  theirs  ;  golden  links  bind  us  together. 

"  One  family  we  dwell  in  Him,  one  church  above,  beneath, 
Though  now  divided  by  the  stream — the  narrow  stream  of  death, 
One  army  of  the  living  God,  at  his  command  we  bow, 
Part  of  his  host  have  crossed  the  flood,  and  part  are  crossing  now  ; 
E'en  now,  by  faith  we  join  our  hands  with  those  that  went  before, 
And  greet  the  blood  besprinkled  bands  on  the  eternal  shore." 

Gently  we  tread  on  holy  ground,  and  select  a  few 
names  from  among  many  that  are  worthy  of  record  : 
Charles  H.  Duncomb,  at  whose  house  the  first  class 
was  formed  and  whose  garret  was  the  chapel,  was  the 
first  class  leader  and  architect  of  the  Jefferson  Street 
Church.  He  died  August  24th,  1812,  aged  41.  His 
wife  Polly,  the  second  one  of  the  little  band  of  five, 
died  the  same  year,  two  months  before  her  husband. 
An  infant  'daughter  sleeps  beside  them  in  the  old 
church  yard  in  Jefferson  Street. 

Thomas  Hay  wood  and  Joanna  his  wife,  sleep  in 
the  same  spot.  He  departed  this  life  1818,  and  she 
1839  aged  91.  On  their  tombstones  is  written, 
"  Blessed  are  the  dead,"  &c. 

Close  by  these  graves  are  those  of  Elijah  Morgan, 
Sr.,  and  wife  Lavina.  The  former  died  1815,  aged 
63,  and  the  latter  1838,  aged  86.  Now  removed  to 
cemetery. 

Here  among  the  tombs  are  found  the  familiar 
names,  so  associated  with  our  early  history,  of  Arm- 
strong, Stanton,  Weddell,  Reynolds. 

Among   the    names   held    sacred    by    the    church, 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  29 

among  the  ministry,  we  recall  those  of  Hedding, 
whose  last  public  prayer  was  in  Washington  Street 
Church,  and  who  was  buried  from  there  ;  Thacher, 
Stillman,  Carpenter,  Seney,  Jewett,  Sanford,  Richard- 
son, Griffin,  Clark,  and  Brown.  Noble  men  of  God 
were  these. 

The  following  sketch  of  Bishop  Hedding  will  be 
read  with  interest :    . 

SKETCH   OF   BISHOP   ELIJAH   HEDDING,   D.D. 

Comparatively  few  of  our  members  are  familiar  with  the 
name  or  character  of  Bishop  Hedding.  He  was  one  of  the 
great  men  of  the  past.  Great  in  his  wisdom,  great  in  his 
goodness,  great  in  his  simplicity,  great  in  his  successes  ;  so 
great  that  he  had  few  superiors,  if  any,  in  a  ministry  of 
fifty  years,  or  in  the  high  office  of  Bishop,  which  he  filled 
for  a  period  of  twenty-eight  years.  He  was  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  born  in  the  year  1780,  and 
emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Vermont  in  1791.  His 
boyhood  was  characterized  by  strong  religious  convictions, 
with  a  will  as  sturdy  as  a  giant  oak  ;  and  the  mental  con- 
flicts of  his  young  life  were  truly  marvellous.  Those  con- 
flicts arose  from  questions  between  truth  and  error  ;  be- 
tween sin  and  righteousness.  The  grace  of  God,  and  the 
teaching  of  a  Christian  mother  gave  him  at  last  a  victory 
over  self,  sin  and  Satan. 

When  1 8  years  of  age  he  was  converted.  His  conversion 
was  hardly  akin  to  many  of  the  professed  conversions  of 
modern  times,  which  may  be  summed  up  in  a  rigid  morali- 
ty, a  connection  with  the  visible  church,  and  observing  of 
Christian  ordinances.  ".Conversion  "  with  young  Hedding 
meant  all  the  word  implies. 

In  proof,  he  attended  a  religious  service  one  Sabbath 
day  ;  the  minister  was  absent.  He  was  induced  to  read  a 
sermon  to  the  people,  as  he  had  done  before,  because  he 
was  a  good  reader.  A  pious  woman  made  a  direct  personal 
appeal  to  him  at  the  close  of  the  service,  which  deeply 
affected  his  heart.  Journeying  homeward  he  turned  into 
a  grove  and  kneeling  by  a  large  tree,  covenanted  with 


30  Methodism  in  Poughkcepsie. 

God  to  cease  from  sin,  and  at  any  and  every  cost  God 
might  require,  seek  the  salvation  of  his  soul. 

Fifty-four  years  after  this,  he  said,  "  in  that  hour  I 
solemnly  made  a  dedication  of  my  soul  to  God.  I  laid  my 
all,  soul,  body,  goods,  for  time  and  for  eternity  upon  the 
altar,  and  I  have  never,  never  taken  them  back.  My  bur- 
den of  guilt  was  removed  from  my  conscience,  and  soon 
after,  the  light  of  the  spirit  broke  in  upon  my  mind  as 
clear,  and  as  perceptible  to  me,  as  the  shining  of  the  sun 
when  it  comes  from  behind  a  cloud,  testifying  that  I  was 
'  born  of  God?  Not  a  doubt,  or  fear,  or  moment's  un- 
certainty, clouded  my  spirit." 

What  a  conversion  !  How  apostolic  !  What  a  forcible 
illustration  "  of  salvation  by  grace  through  faith  ?  " 

As  a  further  evidence  of  the  genuineness  of  his  religious 
experience  and  the  devoutness  of  his  religious  life,  the 
writer  heard  from  his  own  lips,  this  testimony,  a  little 
while  before  his  death  :  "  For  forty  years  I  have  never 
laid  my  head  upon  my  pillow  and  closed  my  eyes  in  sleep 
without  a  sense  of  God's  approval  !  " 

Blessed  heart  work  ;  repentance,  faith,  pardon,  the  wit- 
ness of  pardon  ;  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.  He 
"  knew  whom  he  had  believed." 

His  conversion,  however  clear,  did  not  put  him  beyond 
the  reach  of  temptation.  Very  soon  after  his  conversion 
commenced  a  "  warfare "  that  terminated  only  with  his 
life. 

He  started,  intent  on  running  the  whole  race  He 
fought  to  conquer ;  fighting  fifty  long  years,  through 
abounding  grace  he  was  victor,  and  in  the  end  triumphed 
gloriously. 

Decision  of  character  was  one  of  his  marked  traits.  He 
was  not  one  to  be  beguiled  by  the  world,  or  to  be  swerved 
from  devout  holy  living. 

He  was  not  careful  to  see  with  how  little  religion  he 
could  get  along  respectably  as  a  church  member,  but  how 
much,  and  how  best,  he  could  know  "  the  heights  and 
depths  of  the  love  of  God,  which  passeth  knowledge." 

It  was  worth  his  living  did  he  no  more  than  exemplify 
God's  mercy  in  his  experience  of  pardon  ;  the  witness  of 
the  spirit,  his  growth  in  grace,  and  his  triumphant  death. 


Methodism  in  Poughkccpsie.  31 

Let  it  not  be  said  that  Hedding's  experience  in  the 
divine  life  was  an  exception  ;  or  in  view  of  his  call  to  the 
work  of  this  ministry.  It  was  no  more,  no  less,  than  God 
requires  of^all  true  Christians.  If  one  such,  there  may  be 
more,  yea  many.  The  "  grace  "  that  saved  him,  can  save 
us  in.  like  manner. 

Physically,  Bishop  Hedding  was  of  fine,  manly  propor- 
tions, six  feet  in  height. 

His  was  a  daring  spirit,  not  presumptuous,  possessing 
great  power  of  endurance  with  indomitable  energy  and 
force  of  character  ;  all  this  was  exemplified  in  a  half  cen- 
tury of  deep  religious  experience,  of  toil,  hardships,  and 
sacrifices,  which  made  him  essentially  heroic,  and  put  him 
in  the  front  rank  of  the  successors  of  Asbury,  McKendree 
and  our  pioneer  Bishops. 

In  the  exemplification  of  his  character  he  was  unique. 

In  his  high  office  and  pulpit  ministrations  he  was 
possessed  of  a  gravity  fitting  the  most  devout ;  but  under- 
neath that  grave  exterior  was  a  sun-shine  life,  where  wit, 
humor,  and  all  the  social  elements  were  alive ;  making  him 
one  of  the  most  genial,  loving,  and  lovable  of  men. 

His  fund  of  anecdote  was  inexhaustible  ;  and  in  con- 
versation at  the  fire  side,  while  relating  incidents  of  his  life 
you  were  convulsed  with  laughter,  or  thrilled  with  the 
events  of  his  early  ministry  ;  detailing  his  travels  over 
circuits  hundreds  of  miles  in  extent,  which  had  to  be  com- 
passed in  a  given  time  ;  wanting  food,  sleeping  in  cabins 
where  he  could  count  the  stars  through  the  roof,  fording 
swollen  rivers  on  horseback,  traveling  in  the  wilderness  ; 
preaching  three  times  on  Sabbath  and  even  other  days  in 
the  week.  Scant  in  clothing  and  still  more  scant  in  purse ; 
his  salary  ranging  from  five  to  thirty-five  dollars  per 
annum  ;  all  of  this  was  the  experience  of  Elijah  Hedding  in 
the  early  years  of  his  ministry.  Yet  he  rejoiced  that  he 
was  called  to  do  and  to  suffer  in  the  name  of  his  Master. 

He  makes  the  following  record  at  the  close  of  the  first 
ten  years  of  his  ministry  : 

I  have  averaged  over  3,000  miles  travel  a  year,  and 
preached  on  an  average  a  sermon  a  day  since  I  commenced 
my  itinerant  life.  I  have  never  in  this  time  owned  a  travel- 
ing vehicle,  but  have  ridden  on  horseback,  except  occasion- 


32  Methodism  in  Pouglikeepsie. 

ally  in  winter,  when  I  have  borrowed  a  sleigh.  I  had  no 
dwelling  place  or  home  ;  but  as  a  wayfaring  man,  lodged 
from  night  to  night,  where  hospitality  and  friendship 
opened  the  way,  and  have  traveled  many  a  day  in  summer 
and  winter  without  dinner,  because  I  had  not  a  quarter  of 
a  dollar  that  I  could  spare  to  buy  it." 

The  reader  may  ask  was  not  this  a  work  of  supereroga- 
tion ?  The  writer  answers,  no  ! 

Elijah  Redding  was  a  pioneer  Methodist  preacher.  Few 
men  were  fitted  for  such  a  life.  They  possessed  neither 
the  courage  or  endurance,  or  grace  that  were  needed. 

It  was  his  work  to  break  up  "  fallow  ground."  He 
entered  upon  fields  that  were  new.  Where  he  preached  in 
his  early  ministry,  the  people  were  strangers  to  the  gospel. 
A  Christian  minister  was  a  marvel.  Wondrous  effects 
followed.  Revivals  swept  over  his  fields  of  labor  like  a 
prairie  fire.  Communities  were  shaken,  as  though  an 
earthquake  stirred  them. 

Men  came  to  his  appointments  to  persecute  him  and 
break  up  his  services.  Often  such  men  fell  under  his 
preaching  like  men  slain  in  battle,  and  became  helpless  as 
infants. 

He  triumphed  over  the  hostility  of  the  most  bitter 
enemies  of  the  gospel,  and  led  them  to  the  foot  of  the 
cross  ;  organized  them  into  classes  and  churches  ;  and  thus 
planted  seed  that  eventuated  in  a  glorious  harvest. 

Vast  portions  of  Northern  New  York,  the  states  of 
Vermont  and  New  Hampshire,  and  portions  of  the  Canadas 
were  first  electrified  by  the  power  of  the  gospel  as  it  fell 
from  the  lips  of  Hedding  during  the  first  three  years  of  his 
ministry. 

Such  a  ministry  was  no  work  of  supererogation  ;  true,  it 
was  a  ministry  of  want,  of  toil  ;  of  sacrifice,  and  of  suffer- 
ing ;  but  it  was  a  ministry  of  "  divine  power  "  reaping  a 
harvest  of  souls,  with  scarce  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  the 
American  church. 

To-day  the  hundreds  of  thousands  of  Christian  worship- 
pers in  the  sections  referred  to  ;  the  multitude  of  beautiful 
churches  in  valleys  and  on  mountain  tops  ;  the  grandest 
and  best  appointments  of  all  this  vast  area  scarcely  dream 
that  underlying  all,  and  the  foundation  of  their  success  was 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  33 

the  ministry  of  the  pioneer  Hedding — one  of  God's  best, 
noblest,  and  successful  heralds  of  the  cross. 

The  last  years  of  his  life  were  spent  at  his  home  in  this 
city,  and  his  memory  is  treasured  by  many  of  the  older 
members  of  our  church,  who  enjoyed  his  genial  companion- 
ship and  sterling  friendship.  From  here  he  passed  away 
to  join  that  "  innumerable  company  "  on  the  Qth  of  April, 
1852. 

The  house  which  he  occupied  was  bequeathed  to  our 
Society,  and  since  the  death  of  his  widow  has  been  the 
comfortable  parsonage  where  our  pastors  reside. 


In    Memoriam. 

During  the  winter  of  1892,  the  church  was  called 
to  bury  three  of  the  oldest  members  in  quick  succes- 
sion. The  united  ages  of  these  three  was  253  years  ; 
and  the  membership  of  two  covering  a  period  of 
sixty-four  and  sixty-six  years  respectively.  It  was 
deemed  proper  that  an  appropriate  memorial  service 
should  be  held  in  the  church  of  which  they  had  been 
members.  The  Sabbath  appointed  was  the  regular 
communion  Sabbath,  and  it  became  necessary  to 
blend  these  two  services.  The  reference  to  the  com- 
munion will  be  therefore  readily  comprehended.  It 
was  thought  best  to  publish  the  whole  entire,  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  We  commemorate  to-day  the  death  and  passion  of 
our  great  High  Priest.  It  is  possible  that  the  frequency 
of  an  established  service  in  the  church  detracts  from 
its  significance,  so  that  the  service  becomes  too  much 
a  mere  formal  observance.  Over  1,800  years  the 
church  of  God  has  commemorated  the  agonies  of  cru- 
cifixion blended  with  the  Saviour's  infinite  love. 
Christ's  words,  '  In  Remembrance  of  Me,'  have 
never  been  obliterated  from  the  calendar  of  the 
church,  or  lost  sight  of  by  the  true  disciples  of  our 
Lord.  The  interest  in  this  service  has  been  kept  alive 
by  a  '  Divine  influence '  the  Holy  comforter,  which  was 
conditioned  on  the  withdrawal  of  the  bodily  presence 
of  our  Redeemer ;  so  that  whatever  weakening  of  in- 
fluence (if  any),  by  the  lapse  of  ages,  has  found  its 
counterpart  in  the  '  Fire  burning  upon  God's  Altar 
that  has  never  gone  out,'  that  Baptism  of  'Fire,' 
that  ushered  in,  and  has  been  the  crowning  glory  of 
the  gospel  dispensation. 


MetJiodism  in  Poughkecpsie.  35 

"In  our  commemorative  service  to-day,  we  propose 
to  blend  in  thought  and  feeling  the  life  and  death 
of  some  marked  and  sainted  members  of  our  church. 
No  reason  why  in  this  blending,  we  should  lose  sight 
of  Christ  as  an  atoning  sacrifice.  Christ  our  Prophet, 
Priest  and  King,  Christ,  our  Redeemer,  Christ  our 
Present,  all-sufficient  Saviour.  It  will  be  a  vain  ser-. 
vice  to-day,  if  we,  at  its  close,  are  not  in  closer  com- 
munion with  Christ  than  before.  And  why  not  re- 
cognize the  disciples  as  well  as  the  Lord  ?  The  Di- 
vine records  made  Christ  preeminent,  but  how  much 
is  said  of  Mary,  Martha,  Lazarus,  Peter,  James  and 
John. 

"  It  is  fitting  that  we  recall  the  '  fellowship '  of  some 
sainted  women  of  our  day,  whose  fellowship  was 
sweetened  and  hallowed  by  Christ's  death,  A  '  fel- 
lowship,' that  is  the  earnest,  the  foretaste  of  an  eter- 
nal fellowship  in  Heaven. 

"  Within  a  few  weeks  past  three,  among  the  eldest 
members  of  our  church — our  honored  ones — have  pass- 
ed from  labor  to  reward.  The  church  poorer  !  Heaven 
richer.  Jane  Rundle,  ^.  81  ;  Joanna  Darrow,  ^. 
92  ;  Susan  Howard,  .^i.  80.  The  united  ages  of 
these  three  was  two  hundred  and  fifty-three  years. 
And  now,  concerning  these  recently  departed,  what 
have  we  to  commemorate  ?  What,  beside  the  simple 
fact,  that  like  others,  they  were  members  of  this 
church,  lived  and  died  in  its  communion  ?  Observe  in 
these  cases,  like  many  who  have  gone  before  ;  it  is 
not  simply  a  life,  but  'the'  life,  not  simply  a  death, 
but  '  the '  death. 

"  Here  let  me  ask  a  question.  What  is  the  true 
value  and  estimate  of  human  life  in  its  '  character ' 
and  '  surroundings  ?'  Is  it  in  the  adventitious  circum- 
stances that  shape  the  destiny  f  that  life,  that  minis- 
ters to  it  affluence,  ease,  luxury,  pleasure,  such  as  the 


36  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

world  covets  ;  exalting  the  few  above  the  many  ?  I  an- 
swer, No.  If  this  were  so,  we  should  have  little  to 
commemorate  in  the  lives  of  these  departed  ones. 
We  have  nothing  to  contemplate  in  either  case  of  the 
coveted  adventitious  circumstances  of  the  world. 
Neither  one  could  boast  of  noble  lineage,  of  the  pres- 
tige of  birth,  affluence,  prominence  of  position,  and 
yet,  they  \vere  all  of  them  '  women '  of  whom  the 
world  was  not  worthy.  They  were  born  of  honored 
parentage,  but  in  humble  circumstances  in  life  ; 
schooled  in  adversity  to  a  large  degree,  but  these  ad- 
versities gave  zest  to  their  piety,  and  efficiency  to 
their  endeavors  in  God's  service.  They  found  their 
enjoyment  as  all  true  Christians  do,  more  in  the  ser- 
vice of  God,  than  in  the  pleasures  of  the  world  ;  jour- 
neying toward  Mount  Zion  and  singing  as  they  go, 
pointing  Heavenward. 

'  There  is  my  house  and  portion  fair, 
My  treasure  and  my  heart  are  there, 
And  my  abiding  home.' 

"  In  a  worldly  sense  their  life  was  largely  a  life  of  en- 
durance, of  toil,  of  care.  Notwithstanding  this,  in 
the  church  they  were  honored  In  the  church  they 
were  a  power.  They  were  pilgrims,  in  a  comparative 
sense,  journeying  in  a  wilderness,  but  never  a  day 
without  the  pillar  of  cloud  and  fire.  God  gave  them 
living  springs  of  water  in  their  desert,  and  their  bread 
was  sure.  It  is  true,  as  a  last  resort,  two  of  them, 
fleeing  from  the  avenger  'Poverty,'  (not  pauperism); 
made  pilgrimage  as  in  the  days  of  Moses,  when  God 
provided  cities  of  refuge,  among  the  Israelites  ;  two 
of  these  sainted  women  made  pilgrimage  to  that 
'  Refuge,'  environed  by  the  beautiful  homes  of  our 
city,  '  The  Old  Ladies'  Home.'  They  came,  knock- 
ed at  the  gate.  God's  angels  were  there,  and  let 
them  in  ;  and  '  Poverty  '  in  their  case,  was  outside 
the  gate. 


'Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  37 

"  The  avenger  was  avenged — briefly  let  me  say,  we 
commemorate  their  '  Long  Life ' — and  their  '  Early 
Consecration '  to  God,  we  commemorate  their  '  De- 
vout Life.' 

"  They  were  not  merely  formal  members  of  the 
church.  To  them,  the  church,  was  "  God's  Vine- 
yard "  and  in  it,  they  were  toilers.  They  were  not 
turned  aside  from  the  established  means  of  grace  by 
the  ordinary  attractions  of  the  world.  Always  in 
their  place  in  the  house  of  God,  unless  providentially 
detained,  walking  with  God  !  Knowing  in  whom 
they  had  believed  !  Can  you  not  see  some  attraction 
here  worthy  of  imitation  ?  Keen  regrets  were  often 
theirs,  of  their  inability  to  do  for  God  and  His  cause 
according  to  their  hearts'  desire.  Humbly  in  their 
sorrow  they  would  often  whisper.  '  Silver  and  Gold 
have  I  none,  but  such  as  I  have  give  I  unto  thee.' 
And  they  brought  their  '  Gifts '  to  the  sanctuary. 
And  such  gifts ! 

"There  are  few  living  who  well  remember  the 
'  hush,'  that  pervaded  the  assembly  in  public  ser- 
vice, when  Jane  Rundle  was  asked  to  lead  in  prayer. 
Who  that  ever  heard  her  can  forget  the  melting 
tender  influences  that  followed.  '  Eyes,'  brimming 
with  tears,  and  hearts  all  aglow.  It  always  paid  to 
go  to  the  sanctuary  and  hear  Jane  Rundle  pray,  and 
catch  the  inspiration  of  her  devotions.  The  audience 
would  linger  in  breathless  suspense,  until  the  thrilled 
hearts  would  overflow  with  Divine  influence  and  lips 
would  give  utterance  to  praise. 

This  fact  should  not  be  omitted  ;  as  was  her  cus- 
tom after  her  meal,  she  laid  herself  upon  her  couch 
to  sleep,  and  slept ;  and  before  waking,  passed  through 
the  pearly  gates. 

"  Joanna  Darrow  was  less  demonstrative  in  the  public 
services  of  the  church,  but  no  less  devout,  an  un- 


3  8  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

obtrusive  model  of  Christian  excellence,  that  never 
failed  to  attract  Christward,  and  to  excite,  by  her 
example,  ambition  to  follow  the  Master. 

"  More  of  you  will  remember  the  devoted  Susan 
Howard,  as  she  was  permitted  of  God  to  come  to  the 
sanctary,  years  after  the  others  were  disabled.  We 
make  no  invidious  distinction  between  these  three 
honored  Christian  women.  Susan  Howard  possibly 
surpassed  in  the  roughness  of  her  life,  and  the  severity 
of  her  trials.  But  what  gifts  were  hers  ?  Listening 
to  her  testimony  for  God  and  Grace,  you  would  be  ab- 
sorbed by  the  thought  that  her  lips  were  hallowed  by 
a  live  coal,  touched  with  the  finger  of  God.  And  the 
prayers  she  offered  !  when  on  bended  knee  she  was 
face  to  face  with  God,  electrifying  vast  assemblies, 
and  seemingly  made  Heaven's  gates  stand  ajar,  until 
you  felt  that  you  were  with  Jacob  at  Bethel,  in  the 
midst  of  the  angels  ascending  and  descending,  and 
involuntarily  exclaiming  '  God  is  in  this  place.' 

"  One  momentous  period  and  event  in  the  history  of 
these  three  devoted  women,  I  cannot  forbear  to 
mention. 

"It  came,  it  is  true,  when  they  were  infirm  with  age, 
enfeebled  with  disease,  when  they  were  expectant 
and  waiting,  with  their  lamps  trimmed  and  burning, 
for  their  lamps  never  went  out. 

"  In  quick  succession,  there  came  to  each  a 
messenger,  bearing  a  message,  stamped  with  the  seal 
of  God. 

"  The  messenger  needed  no  introduction  ;  he  had 
been  long  expected.  They  were  not  afraid.  The 
message  was  brief — '  Behold  the  Bridegroom  Cometh  ! ' 
'  Haste  Ye  ! '  '  The  Chariot  and  Horseman  are  here  ! 
God's  angels  are  the  Escort.' 

"  In  a  moment,  they  were  disrobed  of  mortality,  and 
clad  with  the  '  raiment  of  the  saints,'  passed  into 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  39 

the  chariot,  with  no  sad  regrets,  no  clinging,  to  earth, 
but  away  and  upward,  their  souls  ravished  with  the 
vision  of  '  Pearly  Gates,'  ravished  with  '  Celestial 
Music,'  ravished  with  the  beaming  Glory  of  the  Son 
of  God,  their  Saviour.  Ravished,  as  they  clasped 
hands  with  loved  ones  long  since  gone  before,  catch- 
ing anew  the  '  Alleluiahs '  from  angelic  lips,  and 
shouting  back  to  earth  a  glad  refrain,  '  Home  at  last.'  ' 

Here,  was  no  wasted  lives  ! 
Here,  was  no  wreck  at  sea  ! 
Home,  at  last  ! 

The  poetic  words  which  follow  embrace  so  much 
of  their  daily  experience,  in  their  chequered  lives,  we 
cannot  forbear  quoting  the  same  : 

NOT  KNOWING. 

"  Not  knowing  the  things  that  shall  befall  me." 
Acts  xx  :  22. 

BY   M.    G.    BRAINARD. 

I  know  not  what  shall  befall  me  ; 

God  hangs  a  mist  o'er  my  eyes. 
And  thus,  at  each  step  of  my  onward  path, 

He  makes  new  scenes  to  rise  ; 
And  every  joy  he  sends  me  comes 

As  a  sweet  and  glad  surprise. 

I  see  not  a  step  before  me, 

As  I  tread  on  another  year ; 
But  the  past  is  in  God's  keeping. 

The  future  His  mercy  shall  clear, 
And  what  looks  dark  in  the  distance 

May  brighten  as  I  draw  near. 

For  perhaps  the  dreaded  future 

Is  less  bitter  than  I  think  ; 
And  the  Lord  may  sweeten  the  waters 

Before  I  stoop  to  drink  ; 
Or  if  Marah  must  be  Marah, 

He  will  stand  beside  its  brink. 

It  may  be  He  keeps  waiting, 

Till  the  coming  of  my  feet, 
Some  gift  of  such  rare  blessedness, 

Some  joy  so  strangely  sweet, 
That  my  lips  shall  only  tremble 

With  the  thanks  they  cannot  speak. 


4O  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 


0  restful,  blissful  ignorance  ! 
Tis  blessedness  not  to  know  ; 

It  stills  me  in  those  mighty  arms 

Which  will  not  let  me  go. 
And  sweetly  hushes  my  soul  to  rest 

On  the  bosom  which  loves  me  so  ! 

So  I  go  on,  not  knowing  ; 
I  would  not  if  I  might  ; 

1  would  rather  walk  in  the  dark  with  God 

Than  go  alone  in  the  light  ; 
I  would  rather  walk  with  Him  by  faith 
Than  walk  alone  by  sight. 

My  heart  shrinks  back  from  trials 
Which  the  future  may  disclose  ; 

Yet  I  never  had  a  sorrow 

But  what  the  dear  Lord  chose  ; 

So  I  send  the  coming  tears  back 
With  the  whispered  words.   "  He  knows. 


Sabbath   School   History. 

The  Sabbath  school  forms  a  very  important  part 
in  the  rise  and  spread  of  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie, 
and  has  been  a  most  important  auxiliary. 

In  1814  that  eminent  servant  of  God,  "  Elijah  Mor- 
gan ;  whose  devotion  to  the  church  and  Methodism, 
was  scarce  equalled  in  the  early  history  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  this  city,  formed  the 
first  catechetical  class,"  the  prelude  to  the  organization 
of  the  Sabbath  school  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  this  city.  This  was  when  James  M. 
Smith  was  preacher  in  charge  on  Dutchess  circuit,  and 
when  Poughkeepsie  was  included  in  that  circuit. 
They  first  met  in  a  private  house  on  Saturday  p.  M., 
and  it  is  a  fact  of  history,  that  no  matter  how  pressing 
the  business  of  Brother  Morgan,  it  was  always  laid 
aside  when  the  hour  came  for  class  instruction.  This 
class  was  some  thirty  in  number,  and  it  speaks  volumes 
for  the  moral  power  and  blessedness  of  this  work, 
that  the  entire  class  were  in  due  time  happily  convert- 
ed ;  and  grand  and  noble  workers  in  the  church  until 
death. 

We  would  like  to  preserve  the  names  of  this  class 
for  future  reference,  only  thirty  in  number,  and  yet, 
it  has  become  a  "  thousand,"  and  more,  William  W. 
Reynolds,  born  May  21,  1807;  died  March  27,  1873. 
In  process  of  time  he  become  one  of  the  most  hon- 
ored and  distinguished  merchants  of  this  city,  re- 
spected and  beloved  by  the  entire  community.  The 
day  of  his  burial  was  one  of  general  sadness  and  sor- 
row. Every  store  in  the  city  closed  its  doors.  In 
the  church  he  was  the  chief — especially  in  all  its  tern- 


42  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

poralities.  He  died  right,  trusting  in  the  merits  of 
his  Redeemer.  Mary  Reynolds  and  Catharine,  his 
sisters,  each  lived  to  exemplify  the  saving  power  of 
Divine  Grace,  and  were  victorious  over  the  last  enemy. 
Another  sister,  Hannah,  the  last  surviving  member  of 
this  class  lives,  and  is  journeying  Heavenward,  1892. 
Simeon  Hart,  Hannah  Hart,  James  Hart  ;  each  ran 
their  Christian  race  with  joy.  Vincent  Palen,  died  an 
honored  minister  of  Christ.  George  Sprague,  a  life- 
long sabbath  school  worker,  entered  into  rest  joy- 
fully. Lavina  Morgan  finished  her  course  in  Troy, 
N.  Y.,  triumphant.  Wm.  S.  Morgan,  the  son,  and 
successor  of  Elijah  Morgan,  caught  the  mantle  of  his 
father,  converted  under  the  ministry  of  John  Newland 
Maffitt  ;  was  over  fifty  years  a  bright  and  shining 
light,  and  passed  through  death  triumphant,  home, 
Sept.  17,  1886,  ^:.  79  years.  Janette  Manchester, 
Lydia  Manchester,  David  Stanton,  Margaret  and 
Lydia  Carson,  Wm.  Arnold,  Erie  Arnold,  have  left 
records  in  their  lives  that  give  assurance  they,  too, 
passed  through  the  gate  into  the  city.  So  far  as  our 
records  show,  this  first  class,  the  "  first  fruits "  of 
Methodism  is  safely  garnered. 

The  first  "  Sunday  School  Society  "  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  in  this  city,  was  organized  in 
1825,  under  the  pastoral  oversight  of  Rev.  Aaron 
Pierce.  A  constitution  was  adopted  and  thirty-five 
names  recorded  as  members.  At  this  writing  all  are 
dead.  Under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  M.  Richardson, 
in  1827,  the  constitution  was  revised,  and  fifty  ad- 
ditional members  were  added.  In  1831,  School  No. 
2  was  formed,  to  meet  in  Union  street  or  vicinity. 
The  aggressive  spirit  of  Methodism  was  being  de- 
veloped. Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  Sunday 
School  Society,  the  school  was  conducted  by  volun- 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  4$ 

teer  teachers,  Brother  Elijah  Morgan  being  the 
chief  manager. 

From  the  year  1825,  the  time  of  the  organization  of 
the  Sunday  School  Society,  Thomas  M.  Brewer,  was 
acting  superintendent  up  to  1831.  In  1831  he  was 
succeeded  by  Gideon  H.  Osborn.  In  1835.  Osborn 
was  succeeded  by  Smith  W.  Arnold.  In  1844-45, 
Wm.  S.  Morgan  was  superintendent.  In  1846,  Wm. 
Berry.  In  1847,  Liberty  Hyde.  In  1849,  Wm.  S. 
Morgan  was  reflected  superintendent.  His  whole 
superintendency  was  twenty-Jive  years.  Brother  Mor- 
gan was  succeeded  by  Lemuel  J.  Hopkins,  a  worthy 
successor  of  a  worthy  superintendent  for  several  years. 

Mr.  Hopkins  was  succeeded  by  Edwin  Marshall 
and  he  in  turn,  by  Geo.  E.  Cramer,  now  the-  incum- 
bent (1892)  in  his  23d  year  of  service. 

For  successive  years  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hall  has  been, 
and  now  is,  a  most  worthy  lady  superintendent  of 
Washington  Street  Sabbath-school. 

Cannon  Street  Church  on  its  organization  fell  into 
line  in  Sunday-school  work  ;.  and  so  the  Hedding,  and 
German  ;  and  eternity  only  will  reveal,  how  much  the 
M.  E.  Church  in  Poughkeepsie,  has  been  indebted  to 
the  "  Sabbath  School." 

The  report  of  1892  will  show,  at  least,  under  our 
banner, .  1 20  officers  and  teachers  and  one  thousand 
scholars,  in  the  Methodist  Sunday-schools  of  this  city. 

For  nearly  thirty  years  in  succession,  the  Washing- 
ton Street  Sunday  School  had  as  secretary,  James  Rey- 
nolds, Jr.,  who  was  converted  and  joined  the  church 
at  the  same  time  of  the  writer,  under  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  Wm.  Jewett,  1830.  He  was  the  younger 
brother  of  the  Reynolds  family,  so  frequently  referred 
to.  He  died  in  1865,  aged  49,  and  now  sleeps  in  our 
beautiful  cemetery,  surrounded  by  wife,  children,  and 
grandchildren,  all  of  his  immediate  family,  save  one, 


44  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

"Son,  James  Reynolds,"  now  a  merchant  in  this  city. 
Methodism  never  had  a  warmer  heart,  nor  the  M.  E. 
Church  in  Poughkeepsie  a  more  devoted  adherent 
than.  James  Reynolds,  Jr.  ;  crowned  early. 

"  Oh,  for  the  touch  of  a  vanished  hand, 
And  the  sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still." 

The  constitution  of  1827  was  so  amended  as  to 
allow  the  election  of  five  female  managers.  The  first 
elected  were :  Sarah  Richardson,  Ann  Brewer, 
Elizabeth  Near,  Elizabeth  Thacher,  Mrs.  Jacobs. 

As  a  matter  of  the  interest  we  record  here  the 
names  of  some  of  the  early  Sabbath-school  workers  ; 
John  Longfield  ;  Andrew  Smith  ;  Thomas  F.  Newell : 
Moses  Armstrong  and  wife  ;  James  Bell  and  wife  ; 
G.  H.  Osborn  ;  Liberty  Hyde  ;  Robert  Hoffman  ; 
Wm.  Berry  ;  Wm.  Cornwell  ;  L.  M.  Vincent ;  J. 
Reynolds,  Jr.  ;  S.  K.  Darrow  ;  Enoch  L.  Fancher  ; 
James  H.  Darrow  ;  Charles  Armstrong ;  John  A. 
Cole  ;  E.  B.  Bailey  ;  L.  J.  Hopkins  ;  A.  P.  Lent  ; 
Isaac  Reynolds  ;  Wm.  S.  Reynolds  ;  Louis  H.  Hal- 
pin  ;  Brother  Halpin,  a  worthy  assistant  superintend- 
ent many  years  ;  and  noble  women,  not  a  few  :  Ann 
Brewer  ;  Deborah  Stanton  ;  Martha  B.  Law  ;  Charity 
Van  Kleeck  ;  Nancy  M.  Richardson  ;  Hannah  Mor- 
gan ;  Mrs.  Bishop  Hedding  ;  Mrs.  A.  B.  Harvey  ; 
Jane  Rundle  ;  Mrs.  A.  Champlin  ;  Martha  Hyde  ; 
Amanda  Thacher  ;  and  others  equally  worthy. 

All  crowned  !  now,  save  five.     (1892.) 

Of  this  company  it  may  be  said,  "  Faithful  and 
true,"  without  exception  ;  "  Sowing  seed,  beside  all 
waters  "  ;  and  the  Methodist  Church  in  this  city  is, 
to-day,  enjoying  the  "  Harvest,"  the  fruit  of  their 
Labor. 

The  writer  may  be  pardoned  for  one  or  two  inci- 
dents connected  with  some  of  these  Sunday  School 
workers  ;  instance  the  sainted  Jas.  Bell.  In  1827, 


Methodism  in  Poughkccpsie.  45 

under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  M.  Richardson,  there  was 
a  gracious  revival  in  the  mother  church.  One  even- 
ing there  came  to  the  altar  a  man  of  middle  age, 
known  to  be  exceedingly  intemperate  ;  with  no  unbe- 
coming conduct,  he  approached  the  altar  and  knelt 
among  the  mourners.  "  James  Bell  "  had  known  him 
for  years,  and  at  once  imagining  his  coming  as  the 
freak  of  a  drunken  man,  spake  to  him  and  asked, 
"  Why  are  you  here,  Robert  ?  "  He  quietly  answered, 
"  I  have  come  to  seek  religion."  He  was  in  no  wise 
disorderly,  but  in  a  few  moments  quietly  arose  and 
taking  his  hat  in  hand,  passed  out  of  the  church  went 
over  to  the  opposite  corner,  to  a  hotel,  furnished  as 
usual  with  a  "  bar"  ;  asked  for  liquor,  drank  it  and  re- 
turned to  the  church,  and  again  made  his  way  to  the 
altar.  The  service  soon  closed  and  Brother  Bell  again 
interrogated  him,  why,  here  ?  His  ready  response 
was,  "  I  have  come  to  try  and  save  my  soul ;  God 
has  called  me,  and  made  me  feel  it  is  my  last  call." 
Pausing  a  moment,  he  made  a  modest  request,  ''that 
Mr.  Bell  should  accompany  him  home,"  to  which  as- 
sent was  readily  given.  Near  his  residence  his  steps 
turned  to  the  "  barn, "  and  opening  the  stable  door, 
said  earnestly,  "Mr.  Bell,  come  in  and  pray  with 
me."  The  request  was  granted,  and  there,  beside  the 
quiet  horses,  Bell  prayed.  He  charged  him  afterward 
as  to  the  course  he  should  pursue  on  the  morrow,  and 
Robert  solemly  avowed,  "  he  had  drank  his  last  glass 
of  liquor."  Before  dawn  the  ensuing  morning,  Bell 
was  on  his  way  to  the  barn,  fearing  the  worst  results. 
All  was  quiet  around,  but  as  he  approached  the  door 
a  voice  fell  upon  his  ear ;  listening,  his  heart  was 
thrilled  ;  it  was  the  "  voice  of  prayer  ;  and  such  a 
prayer  meeting  as  followed  at  that  early  dawn  in  the 
stable  with  a  repentant  sinner,  you  must  imagine  if 
you  can.  Let  it  suffice  under  the  watch  care  of  Bell, 


46  Methodism  in  Poiighkcepsie. 

he  was  at  the  church  in  the  evening  clothed,  and  in 
his  right  mind.  Regularly  every  evening  for  three 
weeks  he  was  at  that  altar  until  God  converted  him, 
and  he  knew  it,  too  ;  saved,  soul  and  body.  The  faith- 
ful Sabbath  School  teacher  did  not  forsake  him.  Sab- 
bath morning  he  was  introduced  into  the  Sabbath 
School,  soon  joined  the  church,  and  for  ten  successive 
years  lived  a  devout  Christian  life,  and  died  a  most 
triumphant  death.  It  was  "grace"  not  a  '' mere 
pledge"  that  saved  him.  He  never  fell  or  faltered. 
Our  Sabbath  School  record  shows  him  as  filling  im- 
portant stations  therein  for  successive  years.  (Query  : 
Is  it  not  the  best  way  to  save  an  intemperate  man  to 
get  him  soundly  converted  ?  )  When  dying,  his  last 
request  was,  "  Take  me  to  my  church  when  dead,  set 
my  coffin  in  my  accustomed  seat  and  let  the  minister 
point  to  it  and  say,  a  sinner  saved  by  grace." 

Among  our  most  devoted  and  earnest  Sabbath 
School  workers  in  years  agone  was  Mrs.  Rebecca  Tit- 
tamer.  She  was  conspicuous  in  her  work,  for  gath- 
ering a  large  class  of  half-grown  lads  ;  many  of  them 
from  very  poor  families  in  the  city.  Those  who 
needed  she  helped  to  clothe,  and  one  evening  in  a 
week,  rain  or  shine,  she  had  her  class  together,  sympa- 
thizing with  them,  advising,  praying  for  them,  and 
making  them  feel  if  they  had  one  "friend"  living,  it 
was  Mrs.  Tittamer.  She  visited  them  days  in  suc- 
cession, that  she  might  the  better  know  their  habits  of 
life,  and  counteract  if  possible,  evil  influences.  A 
delicate  lady,  and  yet  a  power  in  the  church  and  sab- 
bath school.  It  was  more  than  her  meat  and  drink 
to  hold  in  her  grasp  these  youths,  and  save  them. 
Passed  in  the  prime  of  life  to  her  home  in  Heaven, 
The  day  will  come  when  she  will  say  in  the  presence 
of  God  and  Agels,  "  Here  Lord,  am  I  and  my 
sheaves!  those  thou  gavest  me."  In  June,  1892,  the 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie,  47 

writer  grasped  the  hand  of  a  man  in  middle  life,  who 
was  once  in  the  class  of  Mrs.  Tittamer,  and  who,  with 
tears  in  his  eyes,  named  the  name  of  Mrs.  Tittamer  as 
"  the  instrument  of  his  success  in  business  and  the 
salvation  of  his  soul."  How  many  such  will  rise  up 
in  a  coming  day  and  call  her  blessed. 

The  minister,  who  attended  the  funeral  of  Mrs. 
Tittamer,  among  other  things  said  thus  : 

The  retrospect  of  this  life  is  to  me  and  to  many, 
of  thrilling  interest.  I  have  watched  it  with  interest 
for  40  years.  I  have  known  it  from  the  cradle  to 
the  grave.  I  can  recall  to-day,  the  smile  of  infancy, 
the  prattle  of  childhood,  the  blush  of  early  woman- 
hood. I  have  vivid  recollections  of  the  hand  in  hand 
journeying  of  this  daughter  with  her  widowed  mother, 
as  for  many  years  they  were  all  in  all,  to  each  other, 
and  God  their  friend.  I  remember  her  as  the  Sabbath- 
school  scholar,  the  penitent  at  God's  altar,  and  the 
early  consecration  of  herself  to  God  and  his  church. 
I  have  known  her  in  "  holy  wedlock,"  journeying 
with  one,  now  bereaved  and  sorrowing  ;  and  how 
many  have  known  her,  as  a  devout  Christian  woman  ; 
upon  whose  heart  the  altar  fire  was  ever  burning  ; 
whose  hands  were  ever  full  of  loving  and  tender 
ministrations ;  whose  sympathies  were  well  nigh  un- 
bounded to  the  poor,  the  unfortunate,  to  the  stranger 
within  our  gates. 

Many  young  men  were  led  to  Christ  through  her 
instrumentality,  and  her  weekly  meetings  with  these 
persons,  her  tears,  advice,  encouragement,  and  prayers, 
her  continual  looking  after,  in  sunshine  and  in  storm 
— all  of  these  marked  her  as  one  of  the  most  persistent, 
loving,  and  effectual,  of  our  Christian  workers. 

God  has  taken  one  of  our  most  earnest,  devout 
Christian  women  ;  one  whose  meekness,  whose 
humility,  love,  faith,  purity,  whose  earnest  work  for 


48  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

God  is  rarely  excelled.  Over  her  life  God  reigned. 
Not  less  over  her  Death.  It  was  meet,  that  after 
such  a  life  her  sunset  should  be  without  a  cloud. 
Not  a  shadow,  over  the  closing  scenes  of  her  pilgrim- 
age, save  the  physical  suffering,  and  weariness  of  ex- 
hausted nature.  No  fear.  Under  the  consciousness 
of  dying  her  calm  response  was,  "  Wasting  ;  Watch- 
ing ;  Waiting  ! " 

The  day  before  she  died,  when  she  could  scarce  lift 
a  hand,  or  speak  a  whisper,  from  a  sudden  inspiration 
she  rose  suddenly  in  her  bed,  and  in  a  clear  voice,  and 
with  much  energy,  sent  a  message  to  the  church  as 
follows  : 

"  When  you  meet  my  poor  boys  in  the  street,  speak 
to  them  kind  words  ;  kind  words  will  cost  you  no- 
thing, lead  them  in  the  right  way.  Care  for  these  ; 
I  cannot,  now." 

She  fell  back  upon  her  pillow  and  whispered,  Going 
to  Heaven!  Rest  for  the. weary!  Her  last  words 
were,  "  Going  to  Heaven"  Rebecca  Tittamer, 
"  through  the  gate,  into  the  city." 

"  Where,  angels  themselves  cannot  tell, 

The  joys  of  that  holiest  place  ; 
Where  Jesus  is  pleased  to  reveal, 
The  light  of  His  Heavenly  Face." 

"  Where,  caught  in  the  rapturous  flame, 

The  sight  beatific  they  prove, 
And  walk  in  the  light  of  the  Lamb, 
Enjoying  the  beams  of  His  Love." 

In  the  Sabbath-school,  of  which  we  have  been 
speaking,  there  was  what  was  familiarly  known  as 
the  "  Reserve  Corps " :  Hetty  Marshall,  Rebecca 
Tittamer,  Isabel  Fanning,  Mrs.  Doct.  A.  B.  Harvey, 
Elizabeth  Hall,  Sally  Hawkins,  Mrs.  A.  Champlin, 
Lucretia  Marble,  Allie  Lent,  Mrs.  Louisa  Reynolds. 
They  were  always  supposed  equal  to  any  emergency, 
and  they  never  failed. 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  49 

The  "  Alumni  "  of  the  Washington  Street  Sabbath 
School,  who  passed  into  the  traveling  ministry,  were 
as  follows  :  Jacob  Shaw,  Wm.  Blake,  — .  Dayton, 
— .  Brice,  A.  C.  Foss,  L.  M.  Vincent. 

Worthy  of  marked  distinction,  a  member  of  the 
Washington  Street  M.  E.  Church  Sabbath  School, 
was  Mrs.  N.  Mansell,  nee  Monell,  who  was  received 
into  the  church  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  L.  M. 
Vincent,  and  who  dedicated  her  life  to  missionary 
work  in  India.  Nineteen  years  has  she  spent  in  that 
heathen  land,  in  devoted  missionary  labor.  In  1891, 
with  impaired  health,  she  returned  to  visit  the  home 
of  her  childhood.  In  September,  1^92,  she  returns  to 
India  to  labor,  to  live  or  die  as  God  sees  fit.  India 
has  heard  from  the  Sabbath  School  of  Washington 
Street  M.  E.  Church. 

I  cannot  refuse  to  gratify  the  desire  and  solicitation 
of  friends,  to  insert  in  this  volume,  the  sketch,  deliv- 
ered at  the  funeral  of  our  beloved  Brother  Wm.  S. 
Morgan,  so  prominent  in  Sabbath-school  and  church  : 

How  true  as  quoted,  and  full  of  tenderness,  "  Our 
bitterest  sorrows  are  enfolded  in  our  greatest  delights." 
Sooner  or  later  homes  mean  heart  breaks,  and  love 
means  loneliness.  Love  must  always  bear  a  cross,  and 
the  more  nearly  divine  it  is,  the  deeper  is  the  mark. 

"  God  gives  us  Love  !     Something  to  Love 
He  sends  us,  and  when  Love  is  grown 
'I  o  ripeness,  that  on  which  it  thrives 
Falls  off,  and  Love  is  left  alone." 

This  man  was  my  brother  in  Christ.  An  intimacy 
of  well  nigh  60  years  has  been  as  a  golden  band  weld- 
ing our  hearts  ;  and  in  all  these  years,  never  once 
disrupted  ;  not  broken  now  ;  only  God  has  added  one 
more  link  to  the  chain  which  stretches  out  to  the  home 
beyond. 

Much  of  the  burden  of  this  hour  is  lifted  in  the 
sweet  assurance  of  our  blessed  Redeemer,  to  wit : 


5<D  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

"  In  my  Father's  House  are  many  Mansions ;  if  it 
were  not  so  I  would  have  told  you.  I  go  to  prepare 
a  place  for  you  !  and  if  I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for 
you,  I  will  come  again  and  receive  you  unto  myself ; 
that  where  I  am,  ye  may  be  also." 

If  I  was  asked  to-day  whither  has  our  departed 
brother  gone,  I  should  answer  without  misgiving, 
"  Look  ye  to  the  prepared  place."  "The  House  of 
many  Mansions  "  ;  at  Home,  with  God  and  Angels. 

With  his  body  in  our  presence,  our  thoughts  turn 
to  "death,"  to  separation,  and  the  whole  catalogue  of 
ills  which  follow  in  the  train  of  death.  We  all  appre- 
hend these,  and  dread  them.  In  our  childhood  they 
stared  us  in  the  face,  and  our  fear  thereof  drove  us  to 
parental  arms.  In  youth,  manhood,  extreme  age,  this 
dread  of  dying,  is  the  foe  of  our  peace,  our  ambitions, 
our  hopes.  It  is  a  very  "  taint "  to  all  our  pursuits 
and  purposes !  an  ever  present  consciousness,  that 
despite  all  we  gain  of  worldly  good,  and  all  we  escape 
of  evil,  we  cannot  escape  death. 

How  cheering  then  the  words  of  our  "  Redeemer" 
quoted  a  moment  since,  portraying  to  our  vision  an 
"Existence"  bright  and  beautiful  beyond.  Words 
implying  a  "  reunion,"  after  "  separation  "  ;  implying 
"exemption,"  after  all  our  "suffering,"  in  the  body  ; 
implying  "  immortality  "  ;  that  there  shall  be  no  more 
death.  So  death  is  not  a  "finality"  the  end  of  our 
Being. 

Our  thoughts  are  daily  reaching  out  to  the  end  of 
our  pilgrimage,  to  the  last  fearful  stroke,  when  disease 
has  baffled  the  profoundest  skill  of  the  physician  ; 
when  scalding  tears  fall  upon  the  face,  we  have  look- 
ed upon  so  long,  and  loved  so  much,  when  hearts  are 
broken,  and  the  link  which  has  bound  life  to  life  is 
severed,  but  when  this  fearful  stroke  has  fallen  there 
comes  back  to  us  as  a  refrain  from  the  city  of  God  : 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  5 1 

"  In  my  Father's  House  are  many  Mansions.  I  go  to 
prepare  a  place  for  you." 

This  does  not  imply  a  "  New  Creation."  This  an- 
nouncement of  our  Redeemer  was  not  the  hour  of 
Heavens  Birth.  The  song  of  Redemption  had  been 
sung  there  near  4000  years  before.  Its  first  note  fell 
from  the  lips  of  righteous  Abel,  who,  though  in  the 
angels'  presence,  yet  solitary  and  alone,  sang  the  first 
song  of  Redemption,  "  unto  him  who  loved  us,  and 
washed  us  in  his  own  blood,  to  him  be  glory  forever 
and  ever." 

So  when  the  Lord  Christ  announced  "  I  go  to  pre- 
pare a  place  for  you,"  it  was  not  that  Heaven's  light 
was  now  to  be  created,  and  its  music  first  sung. 
These  words  have  a  spiritual  significance,  and  they 
present  the  fact  that  Christ  was  to  become  our 
"  surety.  "  "  Surety  "  for  our  full  and  complete  re- 
demption of  soul  and  body  ;  a  redemption  no  longer  a 
subject  of  promise  and  prediction,  "  but  an  accom- 
plished/act ; "  stamping  it  with  the  seal  of  his  own 
resurrection,  that  ever  hereafter  death  could  only  reign 
by  "sufferance,"  not  by  "right."  So,  I  go  to  pre- 
pare a  place  for  you  into  the  Holiest,  by  a  new  and 
living  way  by  my  own  blood.  And  if  I  go,  I  will 
come  again  and  receive  you  unto  myself,  that  where 
I  am  there  ye  shall  be  also.  I  go,  men  will  make  me 
captive,  crucify,  and  bury  me.  But,  "  if  I  die,  I  shall 
live  again,"  "  and  because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also." 
Wondrous  revelation  this,  a  glorious  vision  bursting 
on  wrecked  humanity,  portrayed  by  divine  lips.  It  is 
as  if  the  Master  said,  there  shall  be  purpose  in  my 
"death."  By  dying,  I  shall  prepare  the  "  place"  and 
the  "  way."  There  shall  be  purpose  in  my  "  burial." 
In  the  grave  assigned  me  I  shall  plant  the  "seed"  of 
a  "new  existence,"  which  in  due  time  shall  germinate, 
and  the  fruitage  of  that  seed  shall  be  a  harvest  of  un- 


52  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

dying  bodies  of  every  kindred  tongue  and  people 
under  Heaven ;  a  multitude  no  man  can  number, 
reaching  back  to  the  first  guilty  pair,  and  forward  to 
the  end  of  time,  stamping  with  immortality  the  whole 
created  intelligence  of  God. 

With  such  a  revelation  as  this,  our  departure  from 
earth,  should  have  less  of  sorrow  and  more  of  delight- 
ful anticipation.  It  is  but  a  removal  from  one  de- 
partment to  another.  The  transition  is  from  this 
earthly  tabernacle  to  the  building  of  God,  our  tempo- 
rary separations  are  but  the  prelude  to  our  eternal  re- 
union. And  the  dreaded  river  from  which  we  shrink 
becomes,  in  the  language  of  a  little  child  dying  in  the 
arms  of  a  beloved  mother,  "  Only  a  little  brook 
after  all"  This  revelation  "  is  the  substance  of 
things  hoped  for  "  the  evidence  of  the  unseen.  Our 
faith  must  grasp  it  as  such.  It  is  the  want  of  "faith  " 
that  makes  every  dark  cloud  in  our  horizon  portend 
the  lightning  and  storm,  that  resolves  our  every-day 
experience  of  life  into  a  sad  and  calamitous  con- 
dition. This  should  not  be  so.  While  our  mercies 
are  from  God,  the  appropriation  of  them  is  with  our- 
selves through  "faith, "  and  our  faith  should  make 
real  unto  us  the  immutability  of  God's  promises,  the 
tenderness  of  His  care.  Faith  has  but  one  response 
to  God's  providences  that  we  cannot  fathom,  "God 
reigneth."  This  faith  in  God  comprehends  God, 
links  us  to  God,  and  makes  God  available  to  us 
in  every  extremity  of  life  and  death.  God  reigneth  ! 
But  let  us  not  suppose  because  of  this,  that  every 
sea  of  life  must  be  calm  and  placid,  every  sky 
serene,  every  path  stoneless,  God  reigns  in  the 
frost  and  ice  as  well  as  in  the  genial  breath  of 
spring,  fragrant  with  flowers ;  in  the  storm,  as  in  the 
sunshine ;  in  our  afflictions  as  well  as  in  our  comforts. 
It" is  all  the  same  as  to  the  truth  in  question,  whether 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  53 

he  rides  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind,  or  whether  his 
tread  be  as  the  stealthy  tread  of  the  mother  around 
the  cradle  of  her  first  born. 

Very  few  have  excelled  our  Brother  in  the 
power  of  this  faith,  and  why  ?  He  wore  a  panoply 
Divine.  His  was  a  "character"  that  opened  wide 
the  portals  of  Divine  grace,  through  which  beamed 
a  light  that  revealed  God  to  him  as  a  loving 
father,  and  the  ministrations  of  his  Providence  as 
expressive  of  parental  care.  With  him,  "charac- 
ter" was  the  first  and  highest  thing.  His  motto  was, 
like  that  of  Goethe,  "The  history  of  a  man  is  his 
character."  In  perfecting  this,  he  sought  the  inspira- 
tion and  pattern  of  his  manhood  at  the  highest  source, 
the  life  and  teachings  of  our  Blessed  Redeemer.  His 
earthly  pilgrimage  reached  a  period  of  seventy-nine 
years  within  four  days.  Its  wholesome  fruitage,  and 
whatever  commends  itself  to  our  admiration  and  love 
is  due  to  "  Christ"  To  God  he  gave  his  heart,  to 
Him  he  dedicated  his  life,  more  than  fifty  years  ago. 

When  he  gave  his  heart  to  God  he  consecrated  his 
life  work  to  the  church  of  his  choice  ;  and  rare  is  the 
man  whose  fidelity  and  constancy,  whose  love  to  the 
house  of  God  and  the  appointed  means  of  grace  "  ex- 
celled him.  He  ranked  among  the  first  of  his  brethren 
in  zeal,  devotion,  liberality  and  perseverance,  never 
faltering  until  "  the  keepers  of  the  house  began  to 
tremble,"  and  "  the  grasshopper  became  a  burden." 

In  the  Prayer  Meeting,  the  Sunday  School,  over 
which  he  presided  more  than  twenty  years  as  its  su- 
perintendent, he  was  building  up  his  own  "charac- 
ter" and  modelling  others.  His  religious  character 
was  developed  as  well  in  his  "  business "  as  in  the 
sanctuary  where  he  so  delighted  in  singing  the  songs 
of  Zion.  Nearly  fifty  successive  years  he  was  a  lead- 
ing merchant  in  our  city,  commanding  the  confidence 


54  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

and  respect  of  the  entire  community,  and  his  name  to- 
day is  like  precious  ointment  poured  forth.  His  re- 
ligious character  was  developed  in  his  home,  of  wed- 
ded life,  just  passed  fifty-three  years.  Whether  as 
priest  at  the  family  altar,  or  in  the  social  intercourse  of 
the  household,  upon  him  rested  a  Divine  benediction. 
His  home  was  a  "  Bethel  "  where  peace  reigned  and 
God  dwelt.  A  gentleman  of  the  old  school  he  was 
rarely  excelled  in  his  gentlemanly  demeanor.  His 
politeness  has  passed  into  a  proverb.  His  social  life, 
genial  in  the  extreme,  developed  in  his  advanced  years 
the  "  vivacity  of  youth."  He  seemed  never  to  grow 
old.  Paradoxical  as  it  may  appear,  he  was  a  "young, 
old  man,"  until  stricken  down  with  disease  about 
five  months  prior  to  his  death. 

Never  in  his  life  was  his  "  Religious  Character  " 
more  fully  developed  than  during  his  lingering  illness 
and  in  his  peaceful,  quiet  death.  There  is  something 
always  enchanting  "  in  the  chamber  where  the  good 
man  meets  his  fate."  I  always  linger  here  with 
solemn  delight  and  never  do  I  feel  more  in  the  imme- 
diate presence  of  God  and  angels  than  in  the  room  of 
the  dying  Christian.  There  God  dwells,  chariots  are 
in  waiting,  angels  whisper.  My  faith  is  never  shaken 
by  the  variety  of  exercises  there  developed  when  life's 
work,  and  "  character  "  are  well  wrought,  to  comple- 
tion. It  is  all  the  same,  whether  the  departure  is  like 
the  infant  smiling  in  its  last  wakeful  moments,  resting 
upon  the  bosom  of  its  loving  mother,  or  like  a  triump- 
hant victor,  who  proclaims  his  conquest  by  a  shout 
long  and  loud.  It  is  all  the  same,  whether  the  approach 
of  death  is  by  measured  tread  and  slackened  pace, 
making  the  night  long  and  the  dawn  of  the  morning 
slow,  or  whether  he  strikes  quick  and  sudden  as  the 
lightning's  flash.  Even  "  Sudden  Death,"  is  "  Sudden 
Glory."  We  need  no  dying  utterance  from  this  good 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  55 

man's  lips  to  tell  of  a  prospect  bright  beyond.  His 
life  is  the  index  of  his  destiny  over  and  beyond  the 
swelling  flood.  Patiently  submissive,  with  invigorated 
Faith,  with  hope  as  an  anchor  to  the  soul,  never 
doubting,  or  fearing,  he  reached  the  end.  Gently, 
was  the  silver  chord  loosed  and  the  golden  bowl 
broken.  He  "fell  on  sleep''  waking  to  join  the 
church  of  the  first  born  in  Heaven.  Oh,  voiceless 
land,  through  whose  closed  gates  none  come  back  to 
tell  how  eloquent  art  thou  in  thine  unbroken  silence 
of  garnered  love,  of  burdens  laid  down,  of  eternal 
rest,  and  praise.  Farewell  precious  brother,  not  for 
long  ! — only  till  the  day  breaks,  and  the  shadows  flee 
away. 

"  Rest  comes  at  length,  though  life  be  long  and  dreary, 
The  day  must  dawn,  and  darksome  night  be  past ; 
All  journeys  end  in  welcome  to  the  weary, 
And  '  Heaven ,'  the  heart's  true  home,  will  come  at  last." 


Families. 

Among  the  families  who  gathered  at  the  altars  of 
the  mother  church  in  its  early  days  are  names  that 
will  not  be  forgotten  while  the  church  lives.  Their 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  Zion,  their  prompt  and 
faithful  attendance,  their  liberality  and  personal  sacri- 
fices for  the  church  are  not  easily  excelled.  :  The  Mor- 
gans, Reynold's,  Armstrong's,  Brewer,  Rundle,  Stan- 
tons,  Hyde,  Williams,  Hopkins,  and  others. 

Several  passed  from  the  mother  church  to  the  new 
and  later  branches,  Cannon  street,  Hedding,  and  con- 
tinued their  devotedness  until  God  said,  it  is  enough, 
"  come  up  higher.'1  These  were  large  families  in  the 
main,  and  some  of  their  posterity  still  linger,  "  pres- 
sing toward  the  mark  for  the  prize."  These  of  olden  time 
nursed  Methodism  in  its  infancy,  supplying  it  with  all 
things  necessary  for  its  temporal  existence,  not  with- 
holding their  most  ardent  endeavors'  for  the  church's 
spiritual  welfare.  No  stress  of  weather,  no  worldly 
amusements,  no  luxury  at  home  and  comforts  of  the 
fireside  kept  them  from  the  house  of  God.  It  was 
their  refreshment  and  pleasure,  the  stated  means  of 
grace.  For  the  care  of  the  church  they  were  like  a 
break-water  at  the  entrance  of  the  harbor,  a  sure  de- 
fence. They  were  guards  against  encroachments,  and 
"  watchers  "  that  the  fire  on  the  altar  of  the  sanctuary 
"  never  went  out."  Watchers,  toilers,  care-takers  of 
God's  heritage,  behold  the  fruitage  ! 

The  "  social  element  "  of  the  church  in  days  agone 
is  not  exactly  "  one  of  the  lost  arts."  The  remnant 
remains,  and  has  yet  some  attraction  and  frequency. 
It  is  a  pleasant  memory,  how  the  social  and  religious 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  57 

were  combined  in  days  long  agone.  Never  a  "  social 
gathering  "  then,  that  was  not  invariably  sanctified  by 
prayer,  by  devotional  exercises  It  was  deemed  a  se- 
rious drawback  to  all  social  interviews,  the  lack  of  the 
conscious  presence  of  the  "  Master,"  which  was  sel- 
dom the  case.  And  many  a  cloud  of  mercy,  many  a 
passing  shower  of  Divine  grace  was  wafted  to  the 
sanctuary  in  answer  to  the  prayer's  offered  in  "  social 
life."  The  church's  benefit  "  was  the  early  and  latter 
rain."  Is  it  not  a  serious  question  how  far  "  business  " 
in  its  drive  and  hurry,  how  far  the  enticement  to  stay 
at  home  after  a  wearisome  day  of  toil,  how  far  the 
world  has  entrenched  itself  at  the  very  gate,  between 
social  life  and  the  church,  and  barred  it ;  notwith- 
standing soqial  life  hallowed  by  Divine  influences  has 
been,  and  may  be,  an  efficient  instrumentality  in  the 
spirituality  of  the  church  in  the  conversion  of  souls. 


A  record  of  some  of  the  early  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Poughkeepsie,  mostly  of  the  "  Mother 
Church."  We  wish  that  our  space,  and  facilities  were 
sufficient,  for  a  full  and  complete  record  To  resurrect 
them  all  would  be  to  present  an  exceeding  great  army. 
Nearly  all  of  this  record,  have  passed  to  the  church 
triumphant. 


WHEN 
ADMITTED. 

NAMES. 

WHEN  DIED. 

w 
o 
< 

1788 

Elijah  Morgan,  Sr  

i8iq 

63 

« 

Lavina,  his  wife    

1838 

86 

« 

Elizabeth  Thacker  

1841 

83 

I  7QO 

Gabriel  Armstrong  

1830 

i  /yw 
« 

John  Stevens            

1836 

Q2 

1805 

« 

« 
« 

1806 

Charles  H.  Duncomb,  ]       These  five 
Pollv  his  wife                     formed  First 
^Methodist 
John  Giles,                      [  Class  in  PQ,_ 

Peter  Ladue  and  wife,  J   keepsie. 
Jesse  Rundle  

1812 
1812 

1855 

1871 

40 

39 
76 

04 

« 

Ann,  his  wife  

1876 

60 

1809 

Joanna  Haywood  

1839 

01 

1810 

Moses  Armstrong  

1826 

1811 

Elijah  Morgan,  2d  

1857 

74 

« 

Nancy,  his  wife   

1870 

80 

1812 
1815 

Sarah  Richardson,  wife  of  Rev.  M.  R. 
Hannah   Luckey  

1857 

1866 

65 

75 

1812 

James  Bell    

1843 

55 

« 

1815 
1812 

Elizabeth  Ann,  his  wife  
Eliza  Stanton  Bates,  Cannon  St  
Elizabeth  Near  

1888 
1876 

90 

1815 

Stephen  Armstrong   

1864 

73 

tt 

Catharine,  his  wife  

1863 

70 

l8lA 

Emilv  Babcock.  . 

I8<4 

Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 


59 


NAMES   OF   MEMBERS. 


Joseph  Williams 1862 

1812     Thomas  Simpson  and  wife 

1814     Thomas  M.  Brewer 1871 

Ann,  his  wife 

1812     Amelia  Hunt 1830 

1810     Jane  Maria  Jewett,  wife  of  Rev.  W.  J.  1858 

1814  Andrew  Smith.  .. 1857 

1815  Charles  Davis. .    1 865 

Sarah,  his  wife 1863 

Pink  Carr,  (colored) 1878 

Jeremiah  Banker 1861 

Ellen,  his  wife 1863 

1820     Elizabeth  Reynolds,  mother  of  Rey- 
nolds Family  so  frequently  referred 

to 1863 

1823  Charlotte  Monell 1853 

Liberty  Hyde.  . 1887 

Jane,  his  wife 1890 

1826  Gideon  H.  Osborn 1840 

1824  E.  B.  Bailey 1848 

1828  Robert  Hoffman 1836 

1829  Phoebe  Fanning 

1830  Charity  Briggs 1877 

1827  Seneca  Halloway 1889 

Albert  Champlin 1885 

1830  William  Berry 1 879 

Aaro  F.  Palmer 1885 

Susan,  his  wife 

1831  Martha  B.  Law 

Rebecca  Gay 1858 

Charity  Van  Kleeck 

Rosanna  Van  Kleeck 

Harry  Kidney 188 1 

Silva,  his  wife 1886 

1827     Jane  Rundle 1891 

1831  Rachel  and  Maria  Rundle 

Sarah  Rundle 

Patience  Flagler 1837 

1832  Josiah  Williams 1864 

1849     Augustus  Jillson 1871 

Charles  Storm.  .  1862 


6o 


Methodism  tn  Pougkkeepste. 


—  — 


NAMES    OF   MEMBERS. 


1849 


Louis  H.  Halpin 

Doct.  A.  B.  Harvey 

Charles  Armstrong 

A.  T.  Wainwright,  the  father  of  the 
sainted  Mrs.  B.  H.  Trowbridge  who 
died  in  . .  

George  H.  Adriance,  to  whom,  Sudden 
Death  was  Sudden  Glory 

STILL     SERVING,      1892,     IN     ACTIVE 
SERVICE. 

William  Bodden,  George  E.  Cramer, 
James  F.  Marble,  Doct.  Downing, 
James  Myers,  Hickock,  Card,  Dates, 
Carpenter,  Van  Kleeck,  Palmer, 
Morey,  Williams,  W.  T.  Reynolds, 
McNamee,  Lent,  Caughey,  Dauchey 
and  others  we  would  love  to  mention 
did  our  space  permit. 

STILL  VIGOROUS  WORKERS  IN   TRIN- 
ITY   CHURCH. 

Jno.  P.  H.  Tallman,  Corydon  Wheeler, 
James  D.  Burgess,  Richard  R.  Hay- 
man,  James  W.  Rust,  J.  J.  Bahrett, 
J.  W.  Barratt,  John  Lyke. 

PROMINENT  WORKERS  IN  HEDDING 
CHURCH. 

Solomon  B.  Wheeler,  William  Halpin, 
Isaac  Secor,  William  T.  Frost,  John 
Shickle,  Eli  Sutcliff  and  others. 


1890 
1882 


1891 


54 
65 


Class  Meetings. 


Class  Meetings  were  co  eval  with  the  birth  of  Methodism. 
"Joining  Class"  was  synonymous  with  "Joining  the 
Church." 

Every  class  had  its  duly  appointed  leader,  appointed  by 
the  pastor,  whose  authority  in  this  matter  was  supreme. 

A  "  Wilful  Neglect "  of  "  class  "  was  in  this  early  day  of 
Methodism,  and  for  long  years  after,  deemed  a  sufficient 
cause  for  depriving  the  delinquent  of  membership  in  the 
church.  By  discipline  they  were  "  laid  aside."  The  cause 
to  be  named  to  the  society,  "  A  neglect  of  duty,"  not  im- 
morality. This  law  of  the  church  has  been  modified  many 
years  since. 

Thejirst  class  leader  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  Poughkeepsie  was  Charles  H.  Duncomb.  The  original 
paper  is  now  before  me.  He  served  as  leader  from  1805  to 
1812,  when  God  called  him  home. 

It  will  be  of  interest  to  many  to  know  who  composed 
this  first  class.  They  are  as  follows,  with  the  form  of  the 
paper,  and  a  copy  of  its  original  entries.  The  letter  B  in 
the  first  column  signifies  "  believer,"  in  contrast  with  S, 
"  seeker  " — as  generally  appeared  in  all  class-books.  The 
column  following  each  name  denotes  their  "  stations  in  life  " 
so-called  :  as  M,  "  married  ; ''  W,  "  widow  ; "  S,  "  single.'' 
The  figures  denote  their  weekly  or  monthly  class  collec- 
tions for  the  support  of  the  church  and  ministry  : 


Cfl 

O 

~> 

en 

i—  i 

r:j 

^ 

EH 

MEMBERS'   NAMES. 

0 

h-  1 

CJ 
W 

D 

CO 

<J 

n 

X 

H 

o 

in 

u 

T 

B 

Chas.  H.  Duncomb  

M 

ro 

. 

2 

B 

Polly  Duncomb  

Al 

CO 

en 

^ 

B 

Tohn  Giles.. 

M 

CO 

5U 

CO 

62 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 


NUMBER. 

STATE. 

MEMBERS'   NAMES. 

STATIONS. 

COLLECTIONS. 

P, 

Richard  Armstrong  

en 

^  i~i 

4 

p, 

Ekey  Stanton  

5U 

o  C 

r>° 
o  t 

r. 

p. 

Moses   Armstrong  

^3 

co 

-5 

rj 

]^ 

Hannah  Armstrong.. 

M 

5U 

3° 

/ 

Q 

B 

Sarah    Coval  

M 

Jesse  Rundel  

oc 

T  r* 

9 

T  n 

H 

Anna  Rundell  

M 

Z5 

2  5 

H 

Monmouth  Purdy  

CO 

rn 

n 

Betsey  Weddle  

3U 

or; 

:>u 

O  f 

I  2 

P, 

David  Downing  

^3 
CO 

-3 
fp, 

13 

T     | 

]3 

Deentah  Downing  ,  

M 

3U 

D° 

:4 

p. 

Phrebe  Cooper  

2C 

1  r 

T!) 

Tfi 

p, 

Polly  Seabury,  

s 

^3 

-0 

p. 

Catharine  Bogart  

Q 

2C 

•7  C 

T/ 

T  ° 

p. 

Mary  Covel,  

^3 

-5 

Thirzy  Armstrong.  

T  ? 

*  * 

ICJ 

u 

Peter  G.  Palen  

cn 

*  * 

zo 

Margaret  Palen  

3U 

*  * 

2  I 

"I  O 

]] 

Lemuel  Conklin...  

M 

p. 

Mary  Conklin  

2  3 

p. 

Pesfgv  Place. 

c 

24 

T> 

William  Weaver..  

c 

T  "> 

T  -7 

2i 

•>£> 

T> 

Jas.  McBride  

c 

o  c 

T  O 

2(> 

P, 

Nathan  Smith  

Q 

Z5 

T  9 

^  r 

-/ 
~<v 

P. 

Robert  Relay  

-1) 

T> 

Mrs.  Relay  

T  O 

2>j 

P. 

Joanna  Seabury  

Q 

Ou 

Elijah    Giles  

O1 

0  O 

]^ 

John  Tompkins  

s 

32 

1>. 

Elijah  Thacker  

00 

JO 

p. 

Huldah  Tice  

O^5 

o4 

n 

Robert  Dixon  

CO 

35 
,2 

]>. 

Betsey  Dixon  

3U 

3° 

Morgan  

CO 

5> 

-,  ^ 

l> 

—  Morgan  

5° 

•7  C 

j^ 

Phcebe  Titus,    (colored)  

25 

Countes  Tabor  

Jane  Tabor  

Lacy  Sloan  

Penitence  Crook.. 

Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  63 

Following  this  first  class  paper  is  the  next  original  class 
paper,  now  in  possession  of  the  writer,  date  1813,  Moses 
Armstrong,  leader,  endorsed  as  follows  :  "  The  Friday  be- 
fore each  quarterly  meeting  is  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer, 
by  order  of  Discipline.'' 

Signed,  WM.  ANSON, 

MARVIN  RICHARDSON, 
COLES  CARPENTER, 

Preachers. 

Fifty-two  members  on  second  paper. 


Protestant  Churches  in  Poughkeepsie, 
and  their   Unity. 

This  feature  is  marked  and  prominent.  It  would  be  dif- 
ficult to  conceive  a  more  harmonious  religious  community 
than  this.  Though  of  different  names  and  creeds,  their 
differences  are  not  a  bar  to  their  Christian  fellowship  and 
harmonious  working.  If  there  be  strife  among  them,  it  is, 
which  shall  do  most  for  God  and  the  salvation  of  the  people. 
Not  a  gathering  of  any  creed  or  sect,  on  any  public  occa- 
sion, but  you  may  witness  on  the  platform  of  speakers, 
representatives  of  all  the  Orthodox  churches.  "  Their  fears, 
their  hopes,  their  aims,  are  one."  Three  of  their  present 
pastors  have  celebrated  each,  their  twenty-fifth  anniversary 
of  pastoral  service.  Rev.  Dr.  Wheeler,  eight  years  since, 
and  is  now  in  the  thirty-third  year  of  his  pastorate.  Doct. 
Van  Gieson  and  Dr.  Crary  the  present  autumn  ;  very  long 
pastorates  are  the  exception  to  the  rule.  Doct.  Cuyler,  a 
pastor  long  years  agone,  served  the  First  Reformed  Church, 
within  two  weeks  of  twenty-five  years. 


Summary  of  Churches. 

The  Reformed  Church  is    the    oldest    ecclesiastical    or- 
ganization in  Poughkeepsie,  dating  back  to   1716.     It  was 
endowed  by  the  Colonial  Government  with  rich   gifts    of 
land. 
The  first  minister  was  Cornelius  Van  Schie, 

his  ministry  dating 1731     to     1 734 

Following  was  Benjamin  Mencrina I745      "      !755 

Jacobus  Van  Nist 1758      "      1761 

Henricus  Schoonmaker 1763      "      1774 

Isaac  Risdyke 1765      "       1772 

Stephen  Van  Voorhes 1773      "      1776 

Solomon  Fraleigh 1776      "      1780 

John  H.  Livingston 1781      "      1783 

Andrew  Grey 1 790      "      1 793 

Cornelius  Broweva 1794     "      1807 

Cornelius  C.  Cuyler 1808      "      1833 

Samuel  A.  Van  Nnanklie 1834      "      1837 

Alexander  M.  Mann. 1837      "      l857 

George  H.  McEckron   1858      "      1866 

A.  P.  Van  Geison 1867      "      1892 

His  25th  anniversary  was  celebrated  Sabbath,  October 
1 6,  1892.  The  church  reports  528  members,  and  a  pros- 
perous Sabbath-school. 

The  Second  Reformed  Church  was  organized  in  1847. 
This  church  was  dedicated  in  1849. 

The  succession  of  pastors  is  as  follows  : 

Rev.  Charles  Whitehead ' 1849     to     1852 

Charles  S.  Hegeman,  D.D 1852      "      1871 

Joachim  Elmendorf,  D.D 1872      "      1886 

F.  A.  M.  Brown,  D.D 1887      "      1889 

Rev.  Wm.  Bancroft  Hill,  installed  pastor.    1890 

Present  Membership 321 

Sabbath  School  Scholars. 121 

By  this  record  the  Reformed  Churches  have  had  over 
130  years  of  settled  ministry  in  Poughkeepsie. 


66  Methodism  in  Poiighkeepsie. 

The  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  1766. 
Services  were  held  as  far  back  as  1750.  The  parish  receiv- 
ed charter,  1773,  from  George  III.  The  first  church  was 
built  in  1774. 

The  succession  of  rectors,  as  follows  : 

John  Beardsley    1 766       to     1 777 

Henry  Van  Dyke 17%7        "       I79l 

George  H.  Spieren    1792        "      !795 

John  M.  Sayres. 1796        "      1798 

Philander  Chase    1799        "      1805 

Bazzillai  Bulkley 1806        "      1809 

Joseph  Bentice   1810     6  months. 

John  Reed,  D.D 1810       to     1845 

Homer  Wheaton 1846        "      1847 

Samuel  Beuel,  D.D 1847        "      1866 

Philander  K.  Cady,  D.D 1866^     "      1874 

Henry    L.    Zeigenfuss,    D.D.,    arch-dea- 
con and  present  rector 1874 

The  Holy  Comforter  Church  was  organized  in  1860. 

The  succession  of  rectors,  as  follows  : 

John  Scarborough,  D.D 1 860     to     1 867 

B.  F.  Crary,  present  rector 1867 

The  St.  Paul's  Church  was  organized  in  1835. 

The  succession  of  rectors,  as  follows  : 

T.  W.  Hatch 1836     to     1842 

Philip  E.  Milledolen 1843      "      1845 

Albert  D.  Traver,  D.D 1845      "      1866 

Stephen  R.  Synnot 1866      "      1885 

Frank  Heartfield,  present  rector. 1885 

Communicants  of  the  Christ's  Church. 500 

"  "       Holy  Comforter  Church 394 

St.  Paul's  Church 348 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  started  in  1762  and  re- 
organized in  1826.  In  1826  Rev.  Alonzo  Welton  was 
installed  pastor,  followed  by  Reverends  Page,  Eaton  and 
Ludlow,  whose  united  pastorates  count  25  years  and  1 1 
months.  The  present  pastor,  Doct.  Wheeler,  was  settled 
here  in  1859,  an<^  *s  now  m  tne  33^  year  of  his  pastorate, 
the  "  oldest  effective  minister  "  in  this  city.  His  has  been  a 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  67 

pastorate  of  marked  and  rare  success.  Their  present 
membership  is  471,  and  a  very  large  and  flourishing 
Sabbath-school. 

The  Orthodox  Friends  had  an  early  beginning  and  now 
count  1 80  members,  a  large  attendance. 

The  Hicksite  Friends  statedly  meet  in  Lafayette  Place. 

The  Baptist  Church  was  organized  1807.  Their  first 
pastor  was  Rev.  Francis  Wayland,  then  followed  Rev. 
Lewis  Leonard,  Rev.  Dr.  Babcock,  Rev.  J.  Hyatt  Smith, 
Rev.  Wm.  Vanloon,  Rev.  W.  O.  Holman,  Rev.  Loomis, 
J.  B.  Brocket,  Rev.  W.  H.  Wines,  pastor  nine  years ;  Rev. 
Roland  D.  Grant,  H.  B.  Groce.  The  last  five  years,  Rev. 
Ransom  Harvey.  Present  membership,  543. 

The  Congregational  Church,  an  offshoot  of  the  Presby- 
terian, was^organized  in  1837.  The  Rev.  Wayland  Spauld- 
ing  is  now  pastor.  Installed  in  1884. 

Succession  of  Pastors  : 

Rev.  A.  Underwood from  1837  to  1844. 

"    Levi  F.  Waldo "  1844  to  1854. 

"    C.  D.  Rice.    "  1855  to  1860. 

"    Moses  C.  Tyler. "  1861  to  1862. 

"    J.  L.  Corning "  1863  to  1868. 

"    Henry  Loomis "  1869  to  1871. 

"    J.  Beecher , "  1871  to  1875. 

"    Edward  Lawrence, "  1875  to  1883. 

Present  membership,  290. 

The  Jewish  Synagogue,  corner  Vassar  and  Mill,  was  or- 
ganized in  1845. 

The  German  Lutheran,  Grand  near  Union. 

The  Roman  Catholics  have  three  churches. 

The  Methodists  now  have  five  churches,  including  Zion 
M.  E.  Church,  at  102  Catharine  street.  Founded  in  1840. 
Remodeled  1890.  The  others  as  follows: 

Washington  street,  the  mother  church  ;  Trinity,  formerly 
Cannon  street;  Hedding,  in  South  Clover  street;  German, 
Bridge  street,  Rev.  J.  Lutz,  Jr.,  present  pastor. 

Their  aggregate  membership  is  two  thousand,  with  one 
thousand  children  in  their  sabbath  schools, 


The  Church  and  our  Obligations. 

What  is  a  church,  or  what  is  the  true  Holy  Catho- 
lic church  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ? 

It  is  quoted  in  the  discipline  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
"The  visible  church  of  Christ  is  a  congregation  of 
faithful  men  in  which  the  pure  word  of  God  is 
preached  and  the  sacraments  duly  administered,  ac- 
cording to  Christ's  ordinance,  in  all  those  things  that 
of  necessity  are  requisite  to  the  same."  In  an  ordi- 
nary Ecclesiastical  sense,  the  membership,  composing 
a  religious  body.  "  No  one  form  of  church  organiza- 
tion can  be  determined  as  absolutely  right,  so  that  all 
others  are  absolutely  wrong."  It  may  be  one  body,  or 
many,  without  denominational  distinction,  or  as  a 
body  of  whom  Christ  is  the  sole  head,  subordinated 
or  subdivided  into  sects  or  parties,  as  we  find  in  our 
communities,  known  as  Presbyterian,  Baptist,  Metho- 
dist, &c.,  nominal  distinctions  of  sect  or  party.  An 
essential  characteristic  of  all  such,  being  "  Supreme 
love  to  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  The  head  and  author 
of  the  true  church  is  Christ.  Col.  1:18.  And  He 
(Christ), is  the  head  of  the  body,  the  church,  who  is 
the  beginning,  the  first  born  from  the  dead,  that  in  all 
things  he  might  have  the  preeminence. 

In  Eph.  5:23,  it  is  also  written,  Christ  also  loved 
the  church  and  gave  himself  for  it,  (ve.  26),  that  he 
might  sanctify  and  cleanse  it,  &c.,  present  (ve.  27),  it 
to  Himself  a  glorious  church,  not  having  spot  or 
wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing ;  but  that  it  should  be 
Holy  and  without  blemish. 

The  church  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  made  up  of 
an  individual  membership,  of  those  who  acknowledge 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  69 

Christ  as  the  "  Supreme  head,"  and  none  other,  "  the 
chief  corner  stone"  and  none  other  ;  of  those  who  form 
a  voluntary  alliance  with  Christ,  accepting  Christ  in 
all  his  offices  of  "  Prophet,"  "  Priest,"  and  "  King." 

This  alliance  with  Christ  involves  personal  conse- 
cration to  Him  of  all  we  have  and  are,  a  union  with 
Christ,  after  the  "similitude  of  the  branch  and  the 
vine,"  "  a  life  hid,  with  Christ,  in  God,"  which  is  not 
even  broken  by  death,  but  involves  a  transfer  to  the 
"  invisible  "  church,  "  the  church  triumphant."  If 
our  view  be  correct  herein  is  implied  and  expressed 
a  "  union "  between  the  head  of  the  church  and  its 
members.  It  will  be  clearly  and  readily  seen,  that 
"  union  with  the  church  "  is  not  a  mere  assent  of  the 
will  to  have  a  name  recorded  on  its  records.  In  this 
there  might  be  a  name  to  live,  i.  e.,  kept  in  remem- 
brance, and  the  spiritual  life  be  wanting,  which  would 
be  a  false  representation,  a  species  of  hypocrisy, 
*'  Christ  condemned."  "  Non-conformity  "  to  the 
world  is  an  essential  characteristic  of  church  member- 
ship. "Ye  are  not  of  the  world  "  said  Christ,  "I  have 
chosen  you  out  of  the  world,"  and  again  '\  Be  not  con- 
formed to  this  world." 

But  why  join  the  church  ? 

ist,  Because  Christ's  true  followers  are  commanded 
to  confess  Him  before  men.  Mat.  10:32.  It  has 
been  well  said,  "  a  Christian  community  was  not  an 
accident  of  Christ's  ministry,  nor  an  arbitrary  institu- 
tution  ;  it  was  a  necessity  ! "  Christ  said,  "  follow  me." 
He  who  obeyed  must  needs  follow  in  company. 

The  multitude  converted  at  Pentecost  are  declared 
to  be  "  added  to  the  church,"  and  the  apostles  always 
acted  on  this  assumption.  If,  then,  Christ  instituted 
a  church  a  body  of  believers,  if  this  organization  is  the 
object  of  his  peculiar  love  and  care,  is  it  not  manifest, 
that  a  true  regard  for  Christ  binds  "us"  no  less  than 


/O  Methodism  in  Poughkcepsie. 

those  of  apostolic  days,  to  confess  Him  through  the 
same  medium,  and  to  honor  what  He  so  loved? 

The  assumption  often  made  that  "  I  have  no  need 
of  the  Church ;  can  do  as  much  good  outside  as  in 
it"  is  vain  and  futile. 

Would  you  say  if  you  owned  a  plant  of  rare  excel- 
lence and  value,  that  it  would  thrive  as  well  outside 
the  vineyard,  on  barren  waste,  as  in  the  richly  culti- 
vated garden  and  under  the  watchful  care  of  a  skillful 
florist. 

Would  you  thrust  your  child  outside  your  home 
without  a  father's  counsel  or  a  mother's  loving  care, 
and  expect  from  that  "waif"  all  the  virtues  of  noble 
manhood  and  grand  successes  of  the  noblest  and  best 
instructors  ? 

The  care,  the  culture,  protection  of  the  church  are 
indispensable  where  the  opportunity  is  ours.  The 
church  might  do  without  you,  but  what  can  you  do 
ignoring  the  church  ? 

Would  you  develop  as  a  true  Christian  in  all  the 
graces  of  a  Christian  manhood,  would  you  ''shine  as  a 
light  in  the  world?"  or  be  as  a  "tree  planted  by  the 
rivers  of  water  ?"  if  so,  then  live  hard  by  God's  altars 
and  let  the  church  of  God  be  your  abiding  place,  the 
home  of  your  youth,  your  field  of  earnest,  diligent 
toil  in  your  stern  manhood,  your  rest,  sweet  rest,  in 
time  of  old  age. 

But  you  say  churches  differ  in  their  creed,  and  how 
shall  I  best  determine  which  church  to  join. 

This  is  a  matter  often  difficult  to  decide.  There  are 
so  many  different  relations,  circumstances,  conditions, 
meeting  one  just  at  this  point,  that  you  will  often 
hesitate. 

I  cannot  suggest  just  where  your  steps  should  al- 
ways lead  you.  Let  it  suffice  to  say,  in  a  matter  of 
such  grave  importance,  that,  any  and  all  "  worldly 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  71 

conditions  "  should  be  subordinate.  The  issue  you 
realize,  or  ought  to  do,  is  an  "eternal  one."  Hence, 
you  should  recognize  as  far  as  possible  :  the  purest 
doctrine  of  God's  word  to  be  "  believed  "  an  essential 
characteristic  of  every  true  church ;  the  greatest 
helps  to  advancement  in  "  the  Divine  life"  consider- 
ing the  church  a  "nursery,"  and  preeminent  in  your 
consideration  ;  "  the  field  "  you  are  about  to  enter, 
where  you  can  do  most  for  God,  your  own  soul,  and 
the  church. 

In  church  relationship  you  are  not  only  seeking 
your  own  but  Christ's.  Where  are  you  best  fitted  ; 
in  what  field  for  an  abundant  harvest  ? 

You  will  not  then  be  swayed  by  earthly  companion- 
ship, or  by  a  popular  church,  speaking  after  the  manner 
of  the  world  ;  or  by  the  greatest  liberty  a  church  may 
accord  you  in  a  round  of  fashion  and  worldly  pleasure. 
Such  motives  should  be  a  bar  to  your  joining  any 
church,  and  show  at  least  your  unfitness  so  to  do. 

This  joining  a  church  is  one  of  the  grand  and  im- 
portant steps  in  becoming  a  disciple  of  Christ.  It  is 
not  impossible  that  just  at  the  threshold  of  your 
church  relation  there  may  be  need  "  of  a  severing  a 
right  hand,"  or  the  "  plucking  of  a  right  eye,"  but  if 
so  the  recompense  is  ample. 

It  is  enough  for  you  when  the  Master  says  "  Follow 
me,"  to  go  forward  at  all  hazards,  seeking  earnestly 
Divine  guidance  in  matters  of  relation,  companion- 
ship, doing  or  not  doing,  doctrines,  usages,  helps  and 
hindrances ;  let  all  these  be  a  question  between  God 
and  your  own  soul,  and  for  the  soul's  best  good. 

If  it  is  a  question  when  ?  as  well  as  where  ?  "  Work 
while  the  .day  lasts  !  " 

"  The  mill  can  never  grind, 
With  the  water  that  is  past." 

Ask  of  God  "what  wilt  thou  have  me -to  do?" 


72  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

And  here  we  bid  you  God  speed.  "  Have  a  con- 
science void  of  offence  toward  God  and  toward  man." 

"  Whether  ye  eat  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  ye  do,  do 
it  to  the  glory  of  God  !  " 


How  They  Died  ! 


A  question  of  no  little  interest  may  arise,  how  did 
these  noble  men,  and  early  toilers  die  ?  We  do  not 
mean  to  intimate  that  in  other  churches  they  do  not 
die  as  well,  but  we  express  the  fact  of  a  happy  and 
very  close  analogy  between  their  experience  in  life 
and  in  death  !  Triumphant ! 

ELIJAH    HEDDING,    D.D. 

Elijah  Hedding,  D.D.,  one  of  the  most  eminent 
and  laborious  bishops  that  the  church  has  known  ;  for 
many  years  a  resident  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  who  died 
here,  experienced  a  severe  attack  of  disease  December 
28,  1850. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  first  attack,  after  the  severi- 
ty of  his  distress  had  subsided,  he  said  to  Rev.  L.  M. 
Vincent,  "  I  expected  to  die  this  afternoon.  I  fully 
believed  the  hour  of  my  departure  had  come,  but  oh  ! 
how  mercifully  I  was  sustained.  I  had  no  fear  of 
death,  or  eternity.  I  felt  that  through  the  merits  of 
of  Jesus,  my  Saviour,  alone,  it  would  be  well  with 
me,  and  knew  if  my  work  was  done  and  God  ordered 
my  discharge,  it  was  right,  all  right." 

After  his  second  attack,  he  said  :  "  In  all  this,  the 
enemy  was  not  permitted  to  come  nigh  me."  On  the 
7th  of  May,  1851,  he  made  the  following  record  by 
the  assistance  of  an  amanuensis.  "  I  have  now  been 
confined  by  affliction  more  than  four  months.  I  have 
realized  the  truth  of  that  wonderful  word,  '  My 
grace  shall  be  sufficient  for  thee.'  When  the  storm 
first  burst  upon  me,  and  the  wind  howled,  the  waves 
roared,  the  surges  beat  upon  my  head,  and  the  deep 
yawned,  Nature  said,  a  shattered  ruined  wreck,  you 


74  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

are  ;  the  proud  waters  will  soon  come  over  you ! 
But  by  faith,  I  saw  Jesus  walking  on  the  water  and 
heard  him  say,  '  It  is  I,  be  not  afraid,'  and  my  soul 
replied,  '  Behold  God  is  my  Salvation,'  'I  will  trust 
and  not  be  afraid.' ' 

A  short  time  previous  to  his  death  several  brethren 
met  with  him  to  partake  of  the  Holy  Eucharist  He 
was  deeply  affected,  and  then  said,  "  Brethren,  my 
work  is  done  on  earth  ;  I  am  about  to  go  hence  ;  but 
I  have  a  good  hope,  that  my  soul  will  go  to  God  in 
Heaven.  I  depend  on  Christ,  and  feel  that  he  accepts 
me.  I  have  ,no  doubt  of  it.  I  am  as  conscious  of  it 
as  I  can  possibly  be  of  any  thing." 

March  3ist,  after  extreme  suffering,  he  said,  "  I 
have  been  wonderfully  blest.  I  have  served  God 
more  than  50  years.  I  have  generally  had  peace,  but 
I  never  saw  such  glory  before,  such  light.  Such 
clearness  such  beauty.  Oh,  what  glory  I  feel  ;  it 
shines  and  burns  all  through  me  !  it  came  upon  me 
like  the  rushing  of  a  mighty  wind,  as  on  the  day  of 
Pentecost." 

In  his  death  struggle  he  said,  "  I  trust  in  God  and 
feel  safe."  His  last  words  were  :  "I  am  happy  ; 
filled  ! "  Who  would  not  like  such  a  translation  ? 

MARVIN    RICHARDSON. 

Another  of  those  early  heroes  in  Methodism,  one 
who  shared  the  honors  of  early  and  successful  work  ; 
and  who  lived  to  see  the  success  of  Methodism  in  all 
the  region  round  about. 

In  1808,  in  his  iQth  year,  he  commenced  preaching, 
and  for  forty-two  successive  years,  was  an  effective 
minister.  He  was  14  years  on  circuits,  13  years  in 
stations  and  15  years  as  presiding  elder  on  districts. 

For  about  five  months  previous  to  his  death  he  was 
confined  to  his  room  and  bed,  suffering  wearisome 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  75 

days  and  nights,  with  never  a  single  word  of  com- 
plaint or  murmur. 

During  all  these  months  his  hope  in  God  was  as  an 
anchor  to  the  soul,  sure  and  steadfast.  His  religious 
experience  was  not  often  exultant,  but  calm,  sweet, 
abiding.  He  rested  ;  rested  in  Christ,  and  on  Christ. 
He  was  often  uttering  those  poetic  words : 

"  Other  refuge  have  I  none, 

Hangs  my  helpless  soul  on  thee." 

Often  when  tempted  by  the  adversary  he  would 
say,  "  Jesus  has  kept  me  so  long,  he  never  will  for- 
sake me  in  a  dying  hour."  Nor  did  he. 

To  the  last,  his  feet  were  on  the  Rock.  The  day 
prior  to  his  death,  in  response  to  the  inquiry  of  a 
brother,  "  if  all  was  bright  beyond,"  he  with  great 
exertion,  and  marked  emphasis,  exclaimed,  "  Yes,  all 
bright  !  all  bright  !  Glory  be  to  God  !  I  have  no 
fear."  The  gates  of  the  city  of  God  opened  to  him, 
he  was  all  ready,  and  more  than  willing  to  enter  in. 

Death  came  to  him,  not  as  a  "  Chariot  of  Fire," 
bearing  him  away  in  majesty  and  impressiveness,  but 
as  the  quiet  infolding  of  unseen  wings  ;  no  less  divine, 
because  so  noiseless  and  gentle.  One  more  herald  of 
the  Cross  heard  the  Master's  welcoming,  "  Well 
done  !  "  and  passed  in  triumph  Home  to  God. 

FREEBORN    GARRETTSON. 

A  pioneer  of  Methodism  in  Dutchess  Counnty  as 
well  as  elsewhere,  died  in  complete  triumph,  Septem- 
ber 26,  1827,  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age,  and  the  52d 
year  of  ministry.  He  formed  the  First  Methodist 
Class  in  this  city  in  1805. 

Preceding  his  death  was  a  brief  sickness  of  intense 
physical  suffering,  during  which,  his  sky  was  without 
a  cloud. 

In  every  hour  his  soul  was  exultant,  and  he  would 
say  frequently,  "  I  want  to  be  with  Jesus."  "  I  want 


j6  .Methodism  in  Poughkeepste. 

to  go  Home."  The  nearer  the  approach  of  death, 
the  happier  he  grew  ;  and  his  last  words  spoken  even 
in  death,  were  "  Holy,"  "  Holy,"  "  Holy,"  "  Lord 
God  Almighty,"  "  Hallelujah,"  "  Hallelujah." 

CHARLES    W.    CARPENTER. 

And  what  is  true  of  Charles  W.  Carpenter,  an 
honored  minister  of  Christ,  a  pastor  in  Washington 
Street  Church  and  the  organizer  of  the  Cannon  Street 
M.  E.  Church  ? 

On  one  occasion  speaking  of  his  conversion  he  said, 
(and  he  often  said  it,)  "  In  the  afternoon,  while-  en- 
gaged in  private  (the  very  spot  I  well  remember),  I 
poured  out  my  soul  to  God  in  prayer.  I  felt  a 
sudden  and  glorious  change  of  my  feelings.  My 
burden  was  fully  removed.  My  soul  was  filled  with 
inexpressible  peace,  and  I  arose  from  a  suppliant 
position,  not  doubting  but  God  for  Christ's  sake  had 
pardoned  all  my  sins." 

How  these  Methodist  ministers  of  olden  time,  spake 
of  the  knowledge  of  sin  forgiven,  and  the  witness  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  their  pardon  and  acceptance  with 
God. 

Charles  Carpenter's  theme,  "  Life  Long,"  was 
redemption  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  a  present  and 
full  salvation.  It  was  his  passport  to  the  skies. 

GEORGE    COLES.  . 

Once  a  pastor  in  Washington  Street  Church,  physi- 
cally a  feeble  man  for  many  years ;  and  often 
"  through  fear  of  death,  subject  to  bondage."  The 
last  entry  made  in  his  diary,  faithfully  kept,  was 
' '  Death  does  not  seem  so  dreadful  as  formerly. "  As  the 
hour  of  his  departure  approached  he  obtained  through 
grace  a  complete  triumph  over  this  and  every  other 
fear,  and  longed  for  release  !  The  last  word  he  utter- 
ed when  dying  was  "  Hark  ! "  as  if  some  heavenly  voice 
saluted  him. 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  77 

BENJAMIN    GRIFFIN. 

Another  Poughkeepsie  pastor.  Just  before  his 
death  he  called  his  wife  and  said,  my  dear,  "/  ant 
going."  Where  ?  she  inquired  !  "  To  Heaven  !  "  was 
the  quick  response  !  "  I  am  going  up,  up  to  be  for- 
ever with  the  Lord,  Halleluiah,  Halleluiah,  Halle- 
luiah ! "  When  he  could  no  longer  speak,  on  being 
asked  for  a  signal,"  he  raised  first  his  right  hand,  and 
then  both  hands  in  token  of  victory,  and  fell  on  sleep. 

WILLIAM    THACHER, 

As  he  approached  the  close  of  his  pilgrimage  en- 
joyed a  holy  triumph.  In  his  severest  agonies,  he 
shouted,  "  Glory  to  God,  I  am  happy  in  Jesus." 
"  Jesus  is  so  lovely  to  my  poor  soul.  A  sinner  saved 
by  grace."  He  died  in  full  assurance  of  a  blessed 
immortality. 

PETER    P.    SANDFORD. 

One  of  the  noblest  divines  in  our  church,  in  the 
century  which  he  lived.  He  died  as  good  men  die, 
calm,  confident,  and  assured  of  everlasting  glory. 
His  dying  testimony  was,  "  I  have  prayed  for  a  holy 
triumph,  and  I  have  it." 

GEORGE    S.    HARE. 

He  had  no  fear  of  death.     When  dying  and  sup 
posed  to  be  past  consciousness,  he    exclaimed   with 
emphasis,  "  Bless  the  Lord,  oh,  my  soul,  and  all  that 
is  within  me,  bless  his  holy  name." 

Some  of  the  loved  ministers  of  Washington  Street 
Church  were  not  privileged  to  give  a  dying  testimony 
by  reason  of  accidental  death,  or  by  a  sudden  stroke 
that  deprived  of  speech  and  life  at  the  same  moment. 

Instance  our  beloved,  W.  H.  Ferris,  who  was  found 
dead  in  his  bed,  his  wife  beside  him,  not  even  she 
conscious  of  his  departure. 


78  Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie. 

And  the  lamented  "  North  "  crushed  beneath  the 
ponderous  wheels  of  a  locomotive,  not  able  to  utter 
his  own  name. 

And  there  was  King,  Brown,  McLelland,  and 
Hatfield  :  the  testimony  of  their  victory  was  in  their 
lives.  Good  and  holy  men,  who  wrought  righteous- 
ness— and  surely  exchanged  earth  for  Heaven. 

Our  men  die  right !  "  God  buries  his  workmen, 
and  carries  on  his  work." 

There  was  Foss,  Chalker,  Prentice,  once  pastors  in 
Cannon  Street  Church. 

There  was  Wakely,  Culver,  Fitch,  King,  and  W.  C. 
Smith,  once  pastors  in  Hedding  Church. 

"  Servants  of  God  well  done  ! 

Thy  glorious  warfare's  past  : 
The  battle's  fought,  the  race  is  won, 
And  thou  art  crowned  at  last  !  " 

In  reviewing  the  past  history  of  Methodism  we  are 
not  a  Uttle  surprised  at  its  successes. 

In  1780,  the  whole  territory  of  the  United  States 
reported  one  annual  conference,  49  preachers,  and 
8,000  members. 

Passing  on  to  1805,  we  group  together  the  first 
class,  formed  by  Freeborn  Garrettson  in  Duncomb's 
garret,  of  five  members,  the  whole  of  Poughkeepsie 
Methodism.  In  1892,  Methodism  counts  fully  2,000 
communicants  in  Poughkeepsie. 

Looking  over  a  large  field  we  count  in  1892  in  the 
United  States,  and  including  our  foreign  missions, 
131  annual  conferences. 

Ministers,  Traveling  and  Local 60,272 

Members  and  Probationers,  i  ith  Census. .  .4,756,297 

Sunday  Schools. 54,202 

Officers  and  Teachers 605,379 

Scholars 4,609,336 


Methodism  in  Poughkeepsie.  79 

Churches 46,629 

Parsonages :7>353 

Estimated  Value $227,122,632 

The  census  of  1891  reports  the  World's  Methodist 
Family  as  16,960,000  members. 

What  hath  God  wrought ! 


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